Two more tankers have been struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, while US forces have disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, intensifying fears over the safety of merchant shipping across the region. The latest incidents follow a spate of attacks on commercial vessels, with strikes reported inside the Persian Gulf and off the coasts of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), extending the threat beyond the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an outbound tanker was hit on its port side by an unidentified projectile at about 19:20 UTC on Saturday, sparking a fire on board. The crew were safe, but the extent of the damage and any environmental impact remained unclear.
On Sunday, another outbound tanker was struck on its port side, according to a report from the vessel’s company security officer. The ship sustained damage, but all crew members were safe and no environmental impact had been reported. Neither vessel was identified, and responsibility for the attacks remained unconfirmed.
The incidents follow Friday’s attack on the Panama-flagged crude carrier GEM NO.2, which maritime security sources said was struck while anchored about 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera in the UAE. The resulting fire was extinguished. Just two days earlier, another tanker had been hit by multiple projectiles off Qatar, raising concerns that attacks on commercial shipping are spreading beyond the Strait itself.
Iran has stepped up threats and attacks against commercial vessels in recent weeks, particularly ships attempting to use routes through Hormuz that Tehran has not authorised. The latest strikes have heightened concerns over the risks facing vessels across the wider Gulf region.
Meanwhile, US forces have continued targeting commercial ships attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports. In a statement on Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said an American fighter jet struck the stern of the Panama-flagged cargo vessel Ocean Molica, also known as Arika Sun, after its crew ignored repeated warnings and attempted to breach the US naval blockade of Iran.