Key facts
- Twelve ships reported attacks in the week of October 5-11, a record high.
- Oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz slowed to 12.6 million barrels per day on October 13.
- Two crew members are missing after the Petro Dolphin tanker was struck by a drone near Oman.
- The container ship GFS Pride sank on Tuesday, October 14, after an attack in the strait.
The number of ships reporting attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz has reached a record high, with 12 vessels targeted in the week of October 5-11, according to BBC Verify analysis of UK Maritime Trade Operations data. This surge in attacks has coincided with a slowdown in oil shipments through the vital waterway.
Six vessels were struck on Sunday, October 11, the highest single-day total. The Nicaragua-flagged tanker Petro Dolphin caught fire after being hit by a drone near Sohar Anchorage, Oman, with 11 Indian seafarers rescued and two still missing. The container ship GFS Pride sank on Tuesday, October 14, after an attack in the strait, with its 21 crew members safely evacuated.
Experts suggest Iran is increasing attacks to assert control over the strait, while the US military has increased its escort of tankers. Oil exports through the strait fell to 12.6 million barrels per day on October 13, down from 15 million at the end of September. Iran's IRGC claimed the GFS Pride was carrying contraband and had taken an unauthorized route.