IRIA News

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A series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf has heightened concerns about the security of global shipping routes, after explosive boats and projectiles struck multiple ships near Iraq and in the Strait of Hormuz.

At least six vessels were hit in separate incidents late Wednesday and early Thursday, according to maritime authorities and officials in the region. One crew member was killed, and dozens of sailors were rescued after two fuel tankers caught fire near the Iraqi port of Umm Qasr.

The attacks come amid escalating regional tensions and growing disruption to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors.

Two foreign fuel tankers, the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Zefyros, were struck in Iraqi waters after what officials described as explosive-laden boats approached the vessels.

The tankers had loaded fuel cargo in Iraq and were sailing near the country’s southern coast when the attack occurred late Wednesday night. Both ships caught fire after the explosions.

“We recovered the body of a foreign crew member from the water,” one port security official said as Iraqi rescue teams continued searching for missing sailors.

Rescue operations were launched immediately after the blasts. Iraqi port authorities said 25 crew members from the two vessels were pulled from the water.

WATCH: The moment the U.S.-linked oil tanker Safesea Vishnu was hit in the northern Persian Gulf after allegedly ignoring warnings from Iran’s IRGC Navy.

One Indian crew member was killed. pic.twitter.com/WOxTnXkKDx

— Clash Report (@clashreport) March 12, 2026

“A boat belonging to the Iraqi Ports Company rescued 25 crew members from the two vessels, and the fires are still burning on both ships,” said Farhan Al Fartousi, director general of the state-run General Company for Ports of Iraq.

India’s embassy in Baghdad later confirmed that an Indian crew member working aboard a United States-owned tanker had been killed in the attack near Basra.

In a statement posted on X, the embassy said the remaining 15 Indian crew members from the Safesea Vishnu had been evacuated to a safe location. Officials added that they were in regular contact with Iraqi authorities and the rescued sailors.

Following the attacks, Iraqi authorities suspended operations at the country’s oil terminals while commercial ports continued functioning.

Officials described the incident as a serious security breach. “Iraqi officials say this is a flagrant violation of Iraq’s sovereignty given the fact that this act, they say, of sabotage has happened in Iraq’s territorial waters,” officials said.

On March 11, 2026, a US-owned crude oil tanker Safesea Vishnu, sailing under the Marshall Islands flag, was attacked near Basra, Iraq, in which one Indian crew member unfortunately lost his life. The remaining 15 Indian crew have since been evacuated to a safe place. Embassy of…

— India In Iraq (@EI_Baghdad) March 12, 2026

Multiple Ships Hit in the Strait of Hormuz

At the same time, several other vessels were struck by projectiles in and around the Strait of Hormuz, further raising fears for commercial shipping.

The Thai-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was hit by two projectiles while passing through the strait. The explosions caused a fire and severely damaged the ship’s engine room.

“Three crew members are reported missing and believed to be trapped in the engine room,” the ship’s operator, Precious Shipping, said in a statement.

“The company is working with the relevant authorities to rescue these three missing crew members.” The remaining 20 crew members were safely evacuated and later taken ashore in Oman.

Another vessel, the Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty, was also struck by a projectile while anchored in the Gulf about 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates.

The ship’s owner said the vessel sustained minor damage above the waterline but remained fully operational. “All crew members are safe,” the company said, adding that the cause of the incident was still under investigation.

A third ship, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth, was hit by a projectile about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

The blast damaged part of the ship’s hull but caused no injuries among the crew. The vessel remained stable and seaworthy, according to its operator. Separately, maritime authorities reported that an unidentified projectile struck a container ship about 35 nautical miles north of Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates.

The attack caused a small fire, but the crew was reported safe. “No environmental impact has been reported at this time,” maritime authorities said.

Strait of Hormuz Effectively Sealed

The incidents come as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined amid warnings and military threats in the region. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any vessel attempting to pass through the strategic waterway could be targeted.

The strait normally carries about one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas shipments, making it one of the most important trade routes for global energy markets.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has said Iran will continue blocking the Strait of Hormuz, signaling that the country intends to maintain pressure on global shipping routes as the conflict intensifies.

The message was read on Iranian state television rather than delivered by Khamenei himself. In the statement, he said Iran would keep restricting traffic through the strategic waterway, which is one of the world’s most important oil transit routes.

The Strait of Hormuz normally carries about one-fifth of global oil shipments, and the disruption has already raised concerns about energy supplies and shipping security across the Gulf.

Khamenei has not appeared publicly since he was appointed supreme leader following the strike that killed his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. His absence has fueled speculation about his health and whether he may have been injured during the attacks that triggered the current escalation.

Iranian officials have attempted to dismiss the rumors. A senior adviser to the Iranian government said Khamenei is “safe and sound,” though authorities have not explained why he has not appeared in public since assuming the country’s highest leadership position.

The unusual situation has raised questions among analysts about Iran’s internal leadership dynamics and who is directing the country’s military strategy as tensions across the region continue to escalate.

United States President Donald Trump said American forces had struck 28 Iranian vessels believed to be laying mines in the area. He also warned Tehran of severe consequences if mines were deployed to block global shipping.

The United States Navy has so far declined repeated requests from shipping companies for military escorts through the strait, citing the high risk of attacks.

Global Energy Markets React

The growing security crisis in the Gulf has already triggered major concerns about global oil supplies. International Energy Agency members recently agreed to release 400 million barrels of oil from strategic reserves in response to the disruption.

The decision was taken to offset what officials described as the “effective closure” of the Strait of Hormuz. The organization said the move was intended to stabilize global energy markets as the conflict threatens to disrupt one of the world’s most important oil routes.

Meanwhile, Iran said it carried out retaliatory operations across the region, targeting several military and infrastructure sites. Saudi Arabia reported intercepting seven ballistic missiles and two drones aimed at military bases and energy facilities.

In Oman, drones struck fuel storage tanks at the port of Salalah, though authorities said no merchant vessels were damaged.

Israeli forces reported striking Hezbollah command centers and weapons depots in Beirut’s Dahieh district, while Lebanese officials said several people were killed in strikes in the country’s eastern Bekaa Valley.

The attacks across the region mark one of the most serious escalations in maritime security in years, raising fears that continued fighting could disrupt global energy flows and commercial shipping throughout the Gulf.