While the rest of the Gulf region remains relatively calm, the number of attacks inside the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz remain at a high level, reports INTERTANKO in its latest weekly advice for Members regarding the situation in the Gulf region, published at the end of last week (6 November).
In what appears to be a change in tactics, the attacks on ships by elements in Iran have increased in their ferocity, says INTERTANKO, with at least two munitions now being used to attack ships, with targeting appearing to focus primarily on the aft of the ship in the region of the engine room. Additionally, in at least two attacks, Iranian forces have used small boats to attach limpet-style mines to the outside of the hulls of ships whilst underway inside the Dulf.
Therefore, those targeting ships now appear to have refined their intent to stop and disable the ship that they are attacking through the use of multiple munitions and more refined targeting.
Following the elections held in the US, it is now appearing more likely that an end to the war will be sought in the near term, with politicians of all persuasions calling for its end. However, foreign policy will remain in the control of the US President and the new congress will not sit until January. A period of uncertainty will therefore remain in the decision-making process regarding the prosecution of the conflict, believes INTERTANKO, and it is unlikely that the conflict will end quickly.