Four civilian ships were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in one fatality and four injuries, following an increased military presence by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The recent escalation in the Strait of Hormuz has seen the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targeting civilian vessels, leading to a tragic incident where four ships were attacked. Reports from UK Maritime Trade Operations and the Oman Maritime Safety Center indicate that the Palauan-flagged 'Skylight' was attacked near the port of Khasab, injuring four crew members. These crew members included 15 Indian and 5 Iranian nationals, all of whom managed to escape. The vessel was already under U.S. Treasury sanctions due to its involvement in oil trade with Iran. Iranian state media claimed that the ship was illegally navigating the Strait and is currently sinking.
Another incident involved the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker 'MKDVyom,' which was attacked by an unidentified projectile while transporting oil products for Aramco, resulting in a fire in its engine room and one crew member's death. The shipping company confirmed that they successfully extinguished the fire and continued their voyage without any oil leaks. Additionally, the 'Hercules Star' was attacked by an unidentified projectile near Mina Sakhr, igniting a fire that was subsequently put out, while another unidentified vessel was struck near Sharjah without any injuries reported to its crew.
Bloomberg highlighted that, according to digital signals collected, only one vessel owned by the National Iranian Tanker Company (NITC) traversed the Strait on the same day, underscoring the impact of these attacks on maritime traffic. The IRGC has since declared its intention to strike three oil tankers belonging to the U.S. and the UK in the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz, indicating a dangerous escalation in tensions in the region, which could have broader implications for global oil supply and maritime security.
