Three attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz have been identified through delayed reports from UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). These reports indicate that information regarding these incidents is slowly being made public.
Details of the Oil Tanker Attacks
UKMTO issued three separate warnings on Wednesday, numbered 144-26, 145-26, and 146-26, which included incidents reported on September 29 but were not released until September 30. All these incidents have been classified as attacks and attributed to credible sources.
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In the first case, UKMTO reported that a crude oil tanker was struck on its port side by an unknown entity. The second warning also indicates that a tanker passing into the strait was targeted. The third warning provided less information, only stating that a tanker was struck.
Increased Concerns about Maritime Security
UKMTO has not provided any information about the vessels or damages resulting from these attacks, and the timing of each incident is noted as "TBC" (To Be Confirmed). These three reports were issued one day after a review of the information gap regarding attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. The report emphasized that some incidents only become public hours or days after they occur.
These new reports increase the number of newly revealed incidents to at least four and indicate that the public picture of maritime security in this strait remains incomplete. UKMTO has established a voluntary reporting system for maritime transport in the region, encouraging ship owners and operators to report security incidents.
The issue of maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz has gained particular importance amid conflicting claims about the number of targeted vessels. While Iran has stated that its forces have targeted several ships in recent days, public reports indicate a lower number of these incidents. The new warnings from UKMTO do not identify the perpetrators of these attacks and do not confirm Iran's broader claims.
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