The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran (IRGC) has warned that commercial ships that turn off their identification and tracking equipment while illegally passing through the Strait of Hormuz will be considered a threat. This action leads to increased tensions for ships navigating one of the most dangerous waterways in the world.
Details of Recent Attacks on Ships
This warning has been issued as new information has emerged about a series of attacks that occurred on Sunday. These attacks included assaults on oil tankers and container ships, and recently four retrospective warnings have been issued by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). These warnings refer to three oil tankers and one container ship that were attacked on October 11, raising the total reported for that day to six.
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In one of these attacks, an unidentified projectile struck a container ship. Additionally, a crude oil tanker, a product tanker, and another tanker were attacked while passing out of the Strait of Hormuz. The identities of the ships and the extent of the damage have not been quickly determined.
IRGC's Claim Regarding Attacks on Unauthorized Ships
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps of Iran has claimed to have attacked a large oil tanker (VLCC) that was passing without permission, releasing images of the damaged ship named Al Maqam with a capacity of 298,800 tons, belonging to ADNOC Logistics & Services. ADNOC has not yet commented on this matter, and it is unclear whether this attack falls among those reported by UKMTO or is a separate incident.
Following the attack on Sunday, two Indian sailors have also gone missing. This incident occurred when a drone attack targeted a Nicaragua-flagged ship named Petro Dolphin near the port of Sohar in Oman, with nine crew members rescued.
Consequences of Increased Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz
The latest violence follows a U.S. airstrike on Saturday against a Panama-flagged ship named Ocean Molica in the Gulf of Oman, which Washington accuses of attempting to violate its maritime blockade on Iranian ports.
UKMTO has recorded at least 18 reported attacks across the region this month, indicating an escalation of conflicts and an increasing threat to commercial ships beyond just tanker trade.
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