Five tankers damaged in Strait of Hormuz amid shipping tensions
Iranian forces reported that five vessels were hit by mines or fire in the past 24 hours, complicating Qatar's mediation efforts.
By Nathan Brooks ·
Iranian military forces reported that five oil tankers were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz over the past 24 hours.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps stated on Thursday that a large oil tanker caught fire after striking a mine in a restricted area south of the strait. A second supertanker stopped after a fire broke out as it exited the eastern side of the waterway. A tugboat sent to assist that vessel also caught fire.
Iran's army announced that three additional tankers struck naval mines and burned. Military statements released through the IRNA news agency said one vessel caught fire early Thursday morning in an unsafe area east of the strait. Two other ships hit mines and ignited around midday in the same waters.
British military sources said a sixth tanker was struck by two projectiles off the coast of Qatar. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported the hit occurred at 23:20 GMT on Wednesday. The vessel was approximately 50 nautical miles, or 93 kilometers, north of Madinat ash-Shamal. The agency did not identify the ship or its flag state, and no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This incident follows an attack on October 30 involving the Qatari liquefied natural gas carrier Al Mayeda. Qatar Gas Transport Company, known as Nakilat, said no crew members were injured and the ship remained operational while damage was assessed. The company reported no environmental impact from that strike.
Shipping through the strait has been tightly restricted by Tehran since the war began in late February. Under normal conditions, the waterway carries about 20 percent of global oil consumption. UKMTO reported last month that it was difficult to count incidents accurately because many ships now decline to file reports.
Qatar is working to mediate an end to the conflict. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday that both sides are reviewing mediator proposals and that talks are continuing. Pentagon officials told The New York Times on Wednesday that thousands of US air and naval personnel on more than a dozen ships are positioned to resume major combat operations against Iran on President Donald Trump's orders.
Iranian leaders have warned of consequences if Washington or Israel presses ahead with military action. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Wednesday that Iran should not show any inclination towards submission to the US. IRGC Ground Force commander Brigadier General Mohammad Karami said continued hostile actions would lead to further Iranian victories and the collapse of Israel.
