40 Attacks a Week! Iran Targets Commercial Ships in Strait of Hormuz: NYT

WASHINGTON, Oct 2: Iran has been launching about 30 drone attacks and 10 anti-ship missile attacks each week against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz since early August, often missing their targets, The New York Times reported, citing confidential data provided by a Western security official.

The official said at least four commercial ships had been hit by Iran during the 10 days preceding the report. The attacks come as commercial shipping continues to face significant security risks in and around the strategic waterway.

A British maritime monitoring organisation has recorded at least 13 vessels, mostly oil tankers, struck by projectiles or debris since September 10, according to the report. However, the figure may not represent the full number of incidents because the monitoring system relies partly on voluntary reports from ship crews.

Recent UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports confirm a series of incidents involving commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. On September 21, a tanker conducting an inbound transit was reported struck by an unknown projectile, leaving two crew members with minor injuries. Other September incidents involved tankers struck by projectiles, with investigations continuing.

The attacks have continued even as regional oil exports have recovered toward levels seen before the war. The New York Times, citing shipping and cargo-tracking data from Kpler, reported that some of the increase in exports has been facilitated by routes that bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Separate analysis shows that crude oil exports through the strait reached about 16.5 million barrels per day in September, compared with around 6 million barrels per day in March. Producers have increasingly relied on alternative routes, including pipelines and ship-to-ship transfers outside the strait.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical global energy route, and continued attacks on commercial vessels have forced shipping operators to weigh higher security risks and costs against the need to maintain energy flows.

The latest incidents add to a series of attacks involving commercial shipping since the conflict between Iran and the United States and Israel began. Earlier in September, Iran said it had attacked 10 ships near the Strait of Hormuz in what Reuters described as the biggest wave of shipping attacks by both sides since the war began.