Three civilian vessels were attacked on March 11 in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by BBC News.
A fire broke out on the Thai bulk carrier "Mayuree Naree," which was en route from the Khalifa port in the UAE, due to the shelling. The crew of 23 was successfully evacuated by the Omani naval forces.
The container ship "One Majesty," flying the flag of Japan, also fell victim to the attack, sustaining a 10-centimeter diameter hole. The vessel is heading to the nearest safe port and was coming from Ras Al Khaimah (UAE).
Another bulk carrier, "Star Gwyneth," registered in the Marshall Islands, also sustained damage; however, its crew was unharmed. It is unclear whether it changed its course after the shelling.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that Iran attacked two vessels attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. One of them, "Express Rome," flying the Liberian flag, is owned by Israel. The second, "Mayuree Naree," belongs to Thailand. The IRGC claims that both vessels ignored warnings.
At the same time, several drones attacked oil tanks at the port of Salalah, Oman. According to the Omani news agency ONA, some of the drones were shot down, but others reached their targets, causing fires in the fuel storage facilities. According to the company Ambrey, two columns of smoke are observed at the site of the attack, one of the tanks is on fire, and port operations have been suspended. There are no casualties.
Since the escalation of the conflict began on February 28, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has recorded at least 14 incidents involving vessels in the Persian Gulf, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman, of which ten cases are classified as direct attacks on vessels.
The IRGC had previously warned that any vessel passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be attacked. With the start of the military operation by the US and Israel, the strait, through which about 20% of the world's oil and gas supplies pass, is effectively closed. Iran threatens to block the strait for vessels from the US, Israel, and their allies, claiming it will not allow the export of "a single liter of oil" from the region if the attacks continue.
