Iran-Linked Attacks Hit 12 Tankers in Strait of Hormuz
At least 12 oil and gas tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz over one week amid intensifying U.S. economic sanctions on Iran.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre reported that at least 12 oil and gas tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz over the past week. The surge in hostilities included three tankers hit on Friday, two on Sunday, and one on Monday. The Monday attack resulted in an engine room fire after the vessel was struck by a projectile.
In a separate incident on Monday, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ordered a vessel to turn back, an instruction the captain followed. These maritime disruptions coincide with a period of severe economic pressure on Iran, as U.S. economic sanctions have driven the Iranian rial to new lows.
Despite the uptick in attacks on commercial shipping, the United States government has not yet launched a military response to the incidents.
