Limpet mine attack in Hormuz suggests Iran may be shifting tactics
UKMTO report of the first successful limpet mine attack on a commercial vessel in the Middle East since 2019 appeared to undermine the Pentagon's claims to have fully cleared and opened the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy reported that four oil tankers caught fire in the Strait of Hormuz after colliding with naval mines while allegedly traversing unauthorized routes, according to Iranian state media. One tanker, carrying over 2 million barrels of crude oil, suffered a significant explosion and caught ablaze. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency confirmed receiving reports of a tanker struck by an unidentified projectile in the Strait, resulting in a fire on board.
The incident occurred approximately 40 nautical miles south of Iran's Lavan Island. The vessel's identity remains uncertain. These events unfold amidst heightened tensions in the Strait, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. The narrow waterway, a crucial global energy artery, transits about one-fifth of the world's oil supplies.
Any disruption in shipping through the strait could have far-reaching consequences for global energy markets.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times - World News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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- Tanker with 27 Indian seafarers targeted in first-ever limpet mine attack in Hormuz timesofindia.indiatimes.com
- Tanker Carrying 27 Indians Attacked With Limpet Mines In Strait Of Hormuz ndtv.com
