Tankers and energy infrastructure in the Middle East continued to come under attack despite hopes for de-escalation. Thirty-seven ships were attacked in October, the highest monthly total since the war began, and the International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents and at least 25 seafarer deaths since late February.
Videos posted Sunday showed the Singapore-flagged tanker Navig8 Messi on fire near Oman, and satellite imagery showed a large smoke cloud at the location. Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said three tankers were hit Sunday for using “unauthorised routes” through the Strait of Hormuz. The vessel is managed by Navig8, majority owned by ADNOC Logistics & Services.
UKMTO said another tanker was struck northeast of Oman's Lima on Tuesday but did not identify who struck it. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy separately said two tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines on an “unauthorized route.” The International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents, most of them attacks, since the conflict began in late February, with at least 25 seafarers killed.
Videos and satellite imagery showed oil from damaged tankers reaching Oman's shore and spills off Oman and the UAE. In Riyadh, a building belonging to Saudi Aramco was targeted in an attempted attack, the Saudi Energy Ministry said; debris caused limited damage, with no injuries or fatalities. Crude prices hit two-month lows on Tuesday after US officials downplayed the need for additional military action against Iran.
