Strait of Hormuz maritime attacks rise with 12 incidents reported

Between October 5 and October 11, a total of 12 attacks were reported against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, the Persian Gulf, and surrounding areas, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The highest concentration of incidents occurred on October 11, involving six commercial vessels, including five tankers and one container ship, near the Strait of Hormuz and the Omani anchorage of Sohar. Other notable incidents included a crude oil tanker hit by a projectile on October 6 and a tanker targeted by multiple projectiles near Madinat ash Shamala, Qatar, which resulted in reported casualties.

The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC) has maintained a ‘SEVERE’ threat assessment for the Strait of Hormuz. Factors contributing to this heightened risk include recent Iranian attacks, continuous maritime traffic disruption, and interceptions or diversions conducted by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Maritime traffic through the Strait remains significantly below historical averages.