Two tankers were targeted in separate incidents near the Strait of Hormuz and in the northern Persian Gulf by unknown attacks. This points to a series of escalating attacks against commercial shipping in the area, severely worsening maritime security conditions.
Details of Recent Attacks
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on October ٢١, ٢٠٢٦, that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile at approximately ١١ nautical miles west of Muscat, Oman, at ٠١٤٥ UTC. This impact caused a fire on the vessel, which was subsequently extinguished. The tanker is currently anchored, and all crew members are reported to be in good health, with no environmental damage reported.
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In a separate incident, the captain of another tanker reported that at ١٨٣٠ UTC on October ٢٠, it was struck by an unknown projectile approximately ٣٠ nautical miles southeast of Al-Faw in Iraq. This incident was reported to UKMTO after it occurred, and all crew members are reported to be safe with no damage to the vessel or environmental harm reported.
Increase in Maritime Attacks and New Threats
These incidents occur amid a rising trend of attacks against commercial shipping, with violence spreading beyond the Strait of Hormuz into the Persian Gulf. UKMTO recorded ١٢ attacks on commercial vessels in the week ending October ١٦, including ١٠ in the Strait of Hormuz, one in the Persian Gulf, and one in the Gulf of Oman. Additionally, a report from JMIC refers to ١٥٣ confirmed maritime security incidents in the region since March ١, a figure that was reported before the recent attacks.
Recent attacks represent an increasing danger for vessels operating outside the main shipping lanes in the strait. For instance, on October ١٦, two tankers near Al-Jubail, Saudi Arabia, were targeted, one of which was struck by a rocket launcher from a small boat. Another tanker was damaged by an unknown projectile, resulting in the evacuation of its crew.
On October ١٨, a tugboat operating about ٢٠ nautical miles northeast of Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, was damaged by two projectiles. The vessel sustained damage but was able to continue its journey, with only a minor injury reported among the crew members.
JMIC has raised the threat level for the Persian Gulf to "significant" due to the expanding pattern of attacks and increased interventions in electronic navigation. This advisory also warns that vessels remaining in a fixed location for extended periods, especially those broadcasting AIS signals, may face greater targeting risks.
This threat is particularly concerning around major anchorages. As of October ١٨, JMIC has counted approximately ٢١٧ vessels near Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, with another ١٦٦ vessels in the waters between Dubai and Jebel Ali to Ras Al Khaimah.
Recent attacks have also occurred following new Iranian claims that commercial vessels have encountered sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. On October ١٧, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed that two supertankers had struck sea mines in this waterway. However, JMIC stated that there is no evidence to support these claims.
While JMIC continues to warn about potential mining activities in and around the traffic separation scheme of the strait, two recent advisories from UKMTO refer to unknown attacks, not confirmed explosions resulting from mines.
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