More Tankers Hit in Hormuz as U.S. Strikes Cargo Ship

Two more tankers have been struck by projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. forces have disabled a commercial cargo vessel in the Gulf of Oman, adding to a growing series of attacks and military incidents involving merchant shipping across the region.

The latest incidents come amid a sharp escalation in attacks on commercial vessels, including recent strikes against tankers inside the Persian Gulf, well beyond the Strait of Hormuz.

According to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an outbound tanker was struck on its port side by an unknown projectile at approximately 1920 UTC on Saturday, October 10, causing a fire onboard. The crew was reported safe, although the extent of the damage and any environmental impact remained unknown.

A second incident was reported on Sunday, October 11, when the company security officer of another outbound tanker reported that the vessel had been struck on its port side by an unidentified projectile. UKMTO said the vessel sustained damage, but all crew members were safe and no environmental impact had been reported.

Neither vessel was identified, and UKMTO did not attribute responsibility for the attacks.

The two incidents follow a particularly violent stretch for commercial shipping in the region.

On Friday, a tanker identified by maritime security sources as the Panama-flagged crude carrier GEM NO.2 was struck by a projectile while anchored approximately 13 nautical miles west of Al Jazeera, United Arab Emirates. The attack caused a fire that was subsequently extinguished.

The strike came just two days after another tanker was hit by multiple projectiles off the coast of Qatar, marking a concerning expansion of attacks beyond the Strait of Hormuz itself.

Iran has stepped up attacks and threats against commercial vessels in recent weeks, particularly ships attempting to use routes through Hormuz that have not been authorized by Iranian authorities. The latest strikes reinforce concerns that the threat to shipping is no longer confined to vessels transiting the narrow waterway.

Meanwhile, the United States has continued its own military operations against commercial vessels attempting to enter or leave Iranian ports.

In a statement issued Saturday, U.S. Central Command 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 violate the U.S. naval blockade against Iran.

CENTCOM said the precision strike disabled the vessel’s propulsion without injuring the crew. The ship had previously departed an Iranian port.

The incident marks the fourth commercial vessel disabled since U.S. forces resumed their blockade of Iranian ports on July 14, according to CENTCOM.

The command said U.S. forces have also turned around 135 commercial ships and destroyed 10 tankers linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ shadow fleet network during the same period.

The blockade is part of Washington’s effort to prevent maritime trade with Iran, even as U.S. officials maintain that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to international shipping.

The latest developments underscore the increasingly difficult security environment facing commercial operators. Ships attempting to pass through Hormuz face the threat of Iranian attacks and intimidation, while vessels calling at Iranian ports risk interception or disabling strikes by U.S. forces.

The danger has also spread beyond the Strait itself, with recent attacks reported off Qatar and the UAE, alongside continued military activity in the Gulf of Oman.

UKMTO issued two additional advisories Saturday. In one, several shipmasters near Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, reported receiving VHF broadcasts directing them to leave their anchorages. In another, UKMTO reported an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, without providing further details.

It was not immediately clear whether the Gulf of Oman advisory was related to the U.S. strike against Ocean Molica.

The U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center warned Thursday that attacks had become more frequent and called for increased vigilance by crews and closer monitoring by the shipping industry.

Despite repeated assurances from Washington that the Strait of Hormuz is open and under U.S. control, the latest incidents highlight the continuing risks of operating in the region, where commercial vessels and their crews remain exposed to attacks by both sides of the conflict.