Attacks in Strait of Hormuz continue: INTERTANKO

In its weekly update issued today (9 October), tanker owners’ body INTERTANKO reports that Iran has continued to attack ships, both those passing through the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) as well as in a new development, within the Gulf.

Over the preceding weekend (2-4 October), an unprecedented number of attacks took place against ships passing through the SoH with 12 ships hit. Fortuitously, no seafarers were killed, however, many were injured; 11 in one attack. One vessel was also hit in the mid Gulf area. Multiple reports were also received of attacks against ships in other areas. However, these were finally assessed to be false reports and once again, proved the need to only use trusted sources of information.  

While the US President has stated that the US will not attack Iran prior to the US Mid-term elections to be held on 3 November 2026, there is no expectation of any reduction in attacks by Iran in the next few weeks. 


Meanwhile, the Houthis have continued their attacks on the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia (KSA) with attacks on the capital Riyadh including multiple strikes on the main international airport. The airport strikes resulted in at least three people being killed and significant damage against aircraft and the terminal. In Yemen, the land war between the KSA backed internationally recognised government forces and the Houthis. The Houthis have also maintained their pressure on the KSA oil infrastructure, however, no further attacks have occurred on shipping. 

Over in the Black Sea region, the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, resulting in three ships carrying grain being hit in international waters off the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria. In one of the attacks one ship was sunk after being hit by multiple munitions and two seafarers on board were killed. There is no expectation of the war halting in the near future and further attacks on shipping can be expected.

However, no attacks on ships lifting non-Russian cargoes from Russian ports has occurred since interventions of the US government and the face-to-face INTERTANKO discussions with the Ukrainian government that took place in late August, the tanker body reports.