Two tankers were hit by unknown projectiles in separate incidents near the Strait of Hormuz and in the northern Persian Gulf, increasing concerns over maritime security in the area.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported on Wednesday that one tanker was struck about 11 nautical miles west of Bukha, Oman, at 1:45 AM UTC on October 21. The hit caused a fire on the vessel, but it has since been put out.
The tanker is now anchored, and all crew members are safe with no environmental damage reported.
In another incident, the captain of a different tanker reported that it was hit by an unknown projectile around 30 nautical miles southeast of Al Faw, Iraq, at 6:30 PM UTC on October 20. UKMTO received this report after the event took place.
All crew members were safe, and there was no damage to the ship or impact on the environment.
Neither of the vessels has been named publicly, and UKMTO has not assigned responsibility for these attacks.
These latest events occur in the context of a significant rise in attacks on commercial shipping, which are increasingly moving beyond the Strait of Hormuz into the greater Persian Gulf region.
In its advisory on October 18, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) maintained a SEVERE threat assessment for the Strait of Hormuz, indicating that targeted attacks are highly likely.
This assessment followed a week of violence, during which UKMTO recorded 12 attacks on commercial vessels up until October 16, including 10 in the Strait of Hormuz, one in the Persian Gulf, and one in the Gulf of Oman. JMIC has noted 153 confirmed maritime security incidents in the region since March 1, before the latest attacks.
Recent incidents highlight the increasing risks to vessels operating outside the main shipping lanes of the strait.
On October 16, two tankers were attacked near Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, one of which was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade from a small boat. Another tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile, leading to an evacuation of its crew.
On October 18, a tugboat about 20 nautical miles northeast of Khor Fakkan, UAE, was hit by two projectiles. The vessel was damaged but continued its journey, with one crew member sustaining a minor injury.
In response, JMIC increased the threat level for the broader Persian Gulf to SUBSTANTIAL, citing the pattern of escalating attacks and rising electronic navigation disruptions.
The advisory also warned that vessels anchored for long periods, especially those broadcasting AIS signals, could face a higher risk of being targeted.
This threat is particularly alarming around major anchor points. As of October 18, JMIC reported about 217 vessels anchored near Fujairah and Khor Fakkan, with another 166 in waters from Dubai and Jebel Ali toward Ras Al Khaimah.
These attacks follow recent Iranian claims that commercial ships have struck sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz.
On October 17, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy of Iran stated that two supertankers had hit mines in the waterway, but JMIC reported there was no evidence to support these claims.
While JMIC continues to alert mariners about the potential for mining activities in the strait's traffic separation system, the two latest UKMTO warnings refer to strikes from unidentified projectiles, not confirmed mine explosions.