Attacks on vessels in the Middle East Gulf, Gulf of Oman and Strait of Hormuz since late February show no clear pattern of targeting by type, flag or national affiliation, reports London's Lloyd's List.
Data from Lloyd's List Intelligence shows 16 ships have been hit, including nine tankers and six dry cargo vessels, more than half of which were laden. Analysts said the strikes appear calibrated to disrupt commercial shipping rather than focus on specific operators. India and China have held talks with Tehran to allow safe passage for their ships. India's foreign minister S Jaishankar said two Indian-flagged gas tankers were permitted through the strait after negotiations. Between March 1 and 6, 10 vessels were attacked, mostly in the Strait of Hormuz and Gulf of Oman. Six more were hit between March 11 and 13, five of them in the Gulf. The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by projectiles while transiting the strait, causing a fire in its engine room. Only one of the targeted ships, the chemical tanker Skylight, is sanctioned and linked to Iran's shadow fleet. Operators of the vessels hit include companies from nine countries, with most ships run by UAE firms, followed by US and Greek operators. Risk Intelligence analyst Dirk Siebels said the attacks were "pretty random so far to underline the threat and that nobody is really safe." UKMTO noted the campaign appears focused on operational disruption and creating uncertainty across maritime traffic flows.
2026/3/20 13:40:00