Explosions heard in Jordan near US base following Iranian missile launches - report

Commodity vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has plummeted to five crossings per day amid surging attacks and heightened regional tensions, according to shipping data released on Monday. Companies are exercising extreme caution due to the continuous targeting of ships in the crucial waterway. The exact number of vessels may be higher, as some operators have deactivated their Automatic Identification Systems to evade detection.

Kpler analytics revealed that early in the week, only smaller vessels, including two liquefied petroleum gas carriers, braved the strait. One of the vessels exited through the Iranian route, while another sailed without broadcasting its location bound for India. On Friday, 14 ships successfully navigated the Strait, with one being a massive crude carrier carrying two million barrels of Qatari oil.

This tanker made its exit after turning off its transponder. Additionally, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported on Sunday that an oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait on Saturday. This marks the third such incident in recent days. Tensions in the Gulf region intensified after US forces struck two Iranian launch platforms on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz on Sunday, marking the first known US strike against Iran since late July.