According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, three vessels were struck by suspected projectiles Wednesday morning in or near the Strait of Hormuz.
One of the ships reported being hit roughly 11 nautical miles north of Oman while traveling through the narrow waterway. The strike triggered a fire onboard, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel and evacuate.
Two additional incidents were reported the same morning. One vessel was struck approximately 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, while another ship suffered damage closer to the UAE coastline.
Authorities have not publicly identified the vessels involved in the attacks.
The UKMTO warned ships operating in the region to move with caution and report any suspicious activity as investigators work to determine the exact nature of the strikes.
The incidents represent the latest in a series of attacks targeting commercial vessels operating near the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman since the regional conflict intensified.
Thailand-Flagged Ship Among Targets
One of the vessels targeted during the latest wave of attacks was reportedly a Thailand-flagged container ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz.
Thailand’s navy confirmed that the ship, carrying a crew of 23 people, was struck during its transit through the waterway.
Images circulating online showed thick black smoke rising from the vessel, identified as the Mayuree Naree.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later claimed responsibility for the attack. According to Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency, the IRGC acknowledged firing on the vessel while it was moving through the Strait.
The admission marks one of the clearest confirmations from Tehran that it is directly targeting maritime traffic passing through the region.
Strait of Hormuz Under Threat
The Strait of Hormuz is widely considered one of the most critical energy chokepoints in the global economy.
The narrow shipping corridor connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the strait is only about 21 miles wide, forcing tankers and cargo vessels to travel through extremely tight shipping lanes.
Despite its limited size, the strait carries an enormous share of global energy supplies.
Under normal conditions, roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and natural gas shipments pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
Major energy exporters such as Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates rely heavily on the route to move crude oil, refined petroleum products, and liquefied natural gas to global markets.
Any disruption to this shipping corridor has immediate implications for energy prices, global trade, and financial markets.
Shipping Traffic Slows Dramatically
Since the outbreak of the current conflict, shipping activity in the region has slowed dramatically.
Several commercial shipping companies have reportedly delayed or rerouted vessels due to concerns about safety.
Maritime security officials say insurance costs for ships operating in the region have also surged as the threat level has risen.
The UKMTO said it has received 17 reports of incidents involving vessels operating near the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman since the conflict began on Feb. 28.
Those reports include 13 confirmed attacks and four cases involving suspicious activity.
The increasing frequency of incidents suggests that shipping lanes in the region remain highly vulnerable.
U.S. Military Responds
The United States has already taken direct action in response to the escalating threats.
U.S. Central Command said American forces destroyed several Iranian vessels on Tuesday near the Strait of Hormuz. The ships were reportedly equipped for naval mine deployment.
According to the military update, U.S. forces sank 16 Iranian minelayers during the operation.
Naval mines represent one of the most dangerous threats to maritime traffic in narrow waterways like the Strait of Hormuz. Even a small number of mines can force shipping lanes to close while vessels sweep the area for explosives.
President Donald Trump addressed the situation earlier this week and warned Iran against attempting to block the waterway.
“If Iran had put any mines in the waterway, we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY!” Trump said in a statement posted on Truth Social.
The U.S. Navy has increased patrols in the region as the situation continues to evolve.
A Potential Energy Supply Crisis
Security analysts say the attacks on shipping infrastructure could trigger a much broader disruption to global supply chains if they continue.
Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, warned that Iran’s strategy could severely impact global trade.
“Iran’s rapid and extensive retaliation against shipping and regional energy, port and economic infrastructure has severed a vital artery in global supply chains, as the flow of oil, refined products, LNG and chemicals grinds to a near halt,” Soltvedt said in a note.
“Additional attacks against ships in and around the Strait of Hormuz overnight underscore that Iran still presents a very real threat to shipping.”
The situation could become even more volatile if Iran attempts to close the Strait completely.
While Iran has periodically threatened to block the waterway in the past, doing so would likely trigger a massive international military response.
Oil Markets on Edge
Energy markets have reacted sharply to the rising tensions.
Oil prices have already experienced significant volatility in recent days as traders assess the risk of supply disruptions.
Historically, geopolitical conflicts involving the Strait of Hormuz have caused oil prices to spike dramatically.
Even the perception of risk in the region can send crude prices higher.
Energy analysts warn that a prolonged disruption could push oil prices well above $100 per barrel depending on how severely shipping flows are affected.
Higher energy prices would have ripple effects throughout the global economy.
Gasoline prices, shipping costs, airline expenses, and manufacturing costs could all rise if oil supply tightens.
Global Supply Chains at Risk
The conflict also threatens broader global trade beyond oil shipments.
The Persian Gulf region serves as a major shipping hub for chemicals, petrochemicals, liquefied natural gas, and consumer goods.
If vessels continue to avoid the Strait of Hormuz, global supply chains could face new bottlenecks similar to those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shipping delays could impact everything from electronics manufacturing to agricultural exports.
Many shipping companies are already considering alternative routes, although detours around Africa or through other corridors can significantly increase transit times and fuel costs.
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