A third commercial tanker has been attacked near the Strait of Hormuz, as reported by UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which indicated that an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) struck a vessel, leading the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) to escalate its security assessment for the area to “Severe.” This recent attack follows two others within a 24-hour period, raising concerns about deliberate hostile actions against shipping in the region.
UKMTO noted that the latest incident involved a tanker that sustained minor damage but reported no casualties or pollution. This follows an earlier attack where a vessel suffered a fire after being hit by an unidentified projectile. Additionally, JMIC’s advisory warned of increasing risks, including UAV activity and GPS interference, and acknowledged that the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has been involved in ongoing hostile operations.
Despite these heightened tensions, commercial traffic continues through both southern Omani and northern Iranian routes, although a decline in transit volumes is anticipated. The initial attacks were linked to the Qatari LNG carrier Al Rekayyat and the Saudi tanker Wedyan, both of which were reportedly struck by Iranian forces, according to U.S. officials.
These incidents occur in the wake of recent agreements aimed at securing safe navigation in the Strait, yet security concerns persist among operators. UKMTO is investigating all three attacks and has advised vessels to remain cautious and report any suspicious activities.
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