12 Ships Hit in a Week as Hormuz Attacks Shatter Records
Attacks on vessels near the Strait of Hormuz have surged to unprecedented levels, with 12 ships struck in a single week. The escalating violence has killed sailors, sunk at least one vessel, and disrupted global oil shipments through the critical waterway.
Shipping companies are pressing ahead through the Strait of Hormuz even as attacks on vessels reach record highs, with new data confirming 12 ships were struck in a single week [263778]. The narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman remains a vital route for global oil shipments, but the journey has grown increasingly deadly [262641].
The human toll is mounting. At least 25 seafarers have died in attacks near the strait, leaving families struggling for compensation and demanding answers about how their loved ones perished [262640]. No group has claimed responsibility for those deaths.
In one recent incident, two Singapore-registered container vessels were struck in the strait, and one of them sank [262068]. Details about the cause of the strikes and the condition of the crews were not immediately available.
The violence has also wounded civilians. A drone attack injured three people on a fishing vessel off Iran's southern coast, though the nationality of the victims and the type of drone used were not confirmed [262081]. Separately, two Indian nationals went missing after a drone hit an oil tanker off the coast of Oman, prompting local coast guard teams to search the area [259940].
The attacks have pushed transportation costs sharply higher. Shipping operators now face much higher insurance and security expenses, yet they appear willing to accept the risks because the route remains essential for global energy supplies [262641].
The economic ripples are spreading beyond the maritime sector. Delta Air Lines has delayed the start of its Saudi Arabia service until March, postponing what would have been the first nonstop commercial flight between the United States and Saudi Arabia, following attacks at Riyadh's airport [260643].
Yemen's Houthi group has claimed responsibility for attacking facilities belonging to Saudi Aramco, with powerful explosions shaking Riyadh. The Saudi-led coalition said it intercepted a missile fired by the Iran-backed group toward the city [262089].
The Houthis have also unveiled a new weapon: the Palestine-2, a hypersonic missile capable of traveling 16 times the speed of sound. Unlike the unreliable North Korean missiles the group once used, this missile is described as highly accurate and domestically produced [261403].
As regional tensions escalate, South Korea is reviewing a plan to expand its military operations in the Gulf region, potentially deploying additional maritime patrol aircraft. The proposed expansion would require a new consent motion allowing the unit to operate in other waters during emergencies involving South Korean nationals [263440].
The attacks come amid heightened global attention on maritime security. In a separate incident, at least ten people are missing after two merchant ships were attacked off Bulgaria's coast overnight, prompting Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev to summon Russia's ambassador [262449]. French naval forces also intercepted an oil tanker south of La Réunion, suspecting the vessel was part of Russia's "shadow fleet" used to move oil despite international sanctions [261540].
Meanwhile, a South Korean container ship has completed a trial voyage through the Arctic, testing a faster alternative to the Suez Canal as Middle East conflict disrupts global shipping. The PanStar Acro made the round trip to Europe in less time than the conventional route, though concerns remain about environmental impact and sanctions risks [260233].