Commercial Ships Targeted As Iran Threatens Key Gulf Energy Transit Point

"Commercial ships sailing under the flags of Thailand, Japan, and the Marshall Islands were targeted by unknown projectiles across the Strait of Hormuz, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a shipping security monitor, said on March 11. While no crew members were reported dead following the attacks, UKMTO advised ships in the Strait of Hormuz to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity."

"Just off the shores of Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the shipping lane narrows to a width of less than 4 kilometers, the attacks are the latest in at least a dozen incidents since US and Israeli forces began their military campaign against Iran on February 28. Those attacks have prompted retaliatory strikes by Iran on targets in many neighboring Gulf states."

"If Iran has put out any mines in the Hormuz Strait... we want them removed, IMMEDIATELY. US forces would permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait. Later in the day, US Central Command said the American military had eliminated multiple Iranian naval vessels including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz."

Three commercial ships flying Thai, Japanese, and Marshall Islands flags were attacked by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on March 11, with no crew fatalities reported. The incidents occurred in the critical shipping lane where approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies transit. These attacks represent the latest in a series of incidents following US and Israeli military operations against Iran beginning February 28, which prompted Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Gulf region. President Trump issued warnings demanding Iran remove any mines from the strait, threatening military consequences. US Central Command subsequently reported eliminating multiple Iranian naval vessels, including 16 minelayers near the Strait of Hormuz.

Read at RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty