Three vessels hit by gunfire in Strait of Hormuz, crews safe

DUBAI – On Wednesday, at least three container ships were hit by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz, according to maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).

The incidents occurred amid rising tensions in the region, with Iran imposing restrictions on ships using the strait in response to both the U.S.-Israeli bombardment of Iran and the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports.

One of the vessels, a Liberia-flagged container ship, was hit by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades while traveling northeast of Oman. The UKMTO reported that the ship’s master confirmed the attack came from an Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboat, which approached the vessel before opening fire. Fortunately, no crew members were injured, and there were no fires or environmental damage caused by the incident.

Security sources noted that three individuals were aboard the Iranian gunboat. The ship’s captain also reported that there was no radio communication before the attack, despite being initially cleared to transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Following this attack, the UKMTO confirmed a second incident, in which a Panama-flagged vessel was fired upon roughly eight nautical miles west of Iran. Although the ship was not damaged, its crew remained unharmed.

In a third incident, another container ship, also Liberia-flagged, was attacked around eight nautical miles west of Iran. This vessel, which had stopped in the water, was not damaged, and its crew is reported to be safe.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway, historically responsible for transporting approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. Since the outbreak of the war on February 28, tensions have escalated, leading to increased risks for vessels transiting the region.

-Reporting by Jana Choukeir, Jonathan Saul, and Yannis Souliotis; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Kim Coghill and Toby Chopra/Reuters