Attacks on Ships in Strait of Hormuz Escalate, Raising Global Trade Concerns
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – A series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz is intensifying maritime security concerns and disrupting a vital artery of the global oil supply, authorities say. Three ships were struck by projectiles on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center.
The Thailand-flagged cargo ship Mayuree Naree was among those targeted, becoming engulfed in thick black smoke, as confirmed by the UKMTO and images circulating from the scene. Thailand’s navy reported the vessel, carrying 23 people, was attacked while transiting the strait.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have claimed responsibility for firing on the Mayuree Naree, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, as reported by Reuters.
The attacks are occurring against a backdrop of heightened tensions following U.S. and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28. Iran has since retaliated, targeting ships attempting passage through the strait.
One ship was impacted 11 nautical miles north of Oman and subsequently abandoned by its crew after a fire broke out. Two additional incidents were reported – one approximately 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and another near the UAE coastline.
The UKMTO has issued a warning to vessels in the area, urging heightened vigilance and the reporting of any suspicious activity. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the attacks.
Since February 28, the UKMTO has received 17 reports of incidents affecting vessels in the Persian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman, including 13 attack reports and four reports of suspicious activity.
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies, with roughly 20% of the world’s oil and gas typically passing through it. The recent attacks have brought shipping traffic through the strait to a near standstill.
“Iran’s rapid and extensive retaliation against shipping and regional energy…has severed a vital artery in global supply chains,” said Torbjorn Soltvedt, principal Middle East analyst at risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft, in a statement Wednesday. He added that further attacks underscore the continued threat Iran poses to shipping.
U.S. forces sank several Iranian ships, including 16 minelayers, near the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday, according to U.S. Central Command, following a statement from President Trump demanding the removal of any mines in the waterway.
(Source: Content provided by nouvelles-du-monde.com, with information from UKMTO, Reuters, and CNBC.)