Strait of Hormuz Sees Record Ship Attacks Amid Escalating Tensions

Ship attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz have surged to record levels this month, surpassing the total number of incidents recorded in March, which was previously the peak of the Iran war, according to maritime data. The escalation comes as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the Strait of Hormuz "closed" on Saturday, following reports of at least five additional tanker attacks within the preceding 24 hours.

"We maintain full control and intelligence oversight over the area east of the Strait of Hormuz, the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman," the IRGC stated. These recent attacks included a tanker being struck by a rocket-propelled grenade from a small boat, a type of incident not previously reported in the current wave, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

A supertanker carrying over two million barrels of crude oil also caught fire on Saturday. The IRGC claimed the vessel struck a mine while navigating an "unauthorized" route. U.S. Central Command confirmed vessels were being struck by projectiles and stated it had demined the strait.

Iran's navy reported separately that an oil tanker had caught fire and become immobilized in the Gulf of Oman. Two other tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz were attacked on Friday, the UKMTO noted.

In the week ending Friday, a total of 12 vessels were attacked, marking the largest weekly total reported to the UKMTO since the start of the Iran war on February 28. Ten of these attacks occurred within the Strait of Hormuz, one in the Persian Gulf, and one in the Gulf of Oman. Eight of the targeted vessels were oil tankers, and four were container ships. One ship sank, nine were reported damaged, three crew members were injured, and two individuals were reported missing after a drone strike hit a Nicaragua-flagged vessel on Thursday. Six attacks occurred on a single day, October 11.

The UKMTO indicated it was "struggling to accurately report true number of attacks" and suggested that the actual number of incidents in the Strait of Hormuz might be higher, as "a majority of vessels attacked refusing to report."

A notable shift in recent attacks has been their concentration near the coast of Oman, an alternative route increasingly utilized by the U.S. to circumvent Iranian strikes. Iran, however, has asserted that this route is "unauthorized" and insisted vessels travel closer to its shores, signaling an attempt to assert control over the critical waterway.

The IRGC's navy announced a "new deployment formation" across the region, with its spokesperson warning that strikes would not be "limited to the Strait of Hormuz," according to Iranian state media.

"Tehran has evolved its strategy," said Martin Kelly, CEO of Orbital Risk Intelligence, noting that attacks are now occurring near the coasts of Gulf Arab states and in the Gulf of Oman, with "near daily or multiple attacks every single day." He told the BBC, "The aim here is to stop the ships going through and to deter others."

Since the beginning of October, 22 ship strikes have been reported, nearly double the average of previous months. Iranian Army spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia threatened on X, "If America leaves the region, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen and collective security will be established with the participation of the region’s countries, and the global economy will improve. If it doesn’t leave, we’ll expel it."

This assertion directly challenges the U.S. position. U.S. CENTCOM Chief Brad Cooper stated in a video message on Friday, "Let me be clear — the Strait of Hormuz is controlled by the United States and our regional partners, not Iran." Cooper added that approximately 400 ships had transited the strait and 100 million barrels of oil had moved through it over the past week, despite the ongoing attacks.

However, data indicates a decline in oil exports through the strait this month. The seven days ending October 13 saw an average flow of just under 12 million barrels of oil per day, a decrease from 15 million barrels at the end of September and below the pre-war baseline of 17 million barrels daily.