Iran says ship sank in Hormuz

Iran's Revolutionary Guards reported on Wednesday that a ship caught fire and sank in the Strait of Hormuz due to a mine, while British security firm Vanguard also confirmed a sinking incident. The Guards claimed the vessel was carrying over 2,500 containers and had struck a mine, resulting in a massive explosion. Images released by the Guards depict a thick cloud of black smoke emanating from the ship, along with numerous containers that had fallen into the sea and were floating on the water's surface.

Iran asserts sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz, which serves as a crucial passage for one-fifth of the world's hydrocarbon supplies before the Middle East conflict. The Guards have a history of targeting ships they deem as unauthorized transit, while the United States has implemented its own blockade on Iran's ports. Reports from Vanguard indicate that three ships were struck by projectiles on Tuesday, with two vessels managing to continue their journey and the fate of the third ship remaining uncertain.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Centre (UKMTO) also reported on Wednesday that two container ships were hit by projectiles on Tuesday but managed to proceed despite sustaining minor damage. UKMTO had previously documented two other attacks on Tuesday, targeting a tanker and a container ship, but did not clarify whether these incidents caused any damage or casualties.

The conflict between the United States and Iran intensified in late February following US-Israeli strikes against Iran.