Another commercial vessel has come under attack in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting maritime authorities to raise the threat level for shipping in the region. According to the British UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency, a tanker sustained damage to its bridge after being struck by a projectile of unknown origin while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. No crew members were reported injured.
Meanwhile, Bahrain announced it had been targeted by Iranian drones, accusing Tehran of undermining de-escalation efforts in the region. The incident comes in the wake of the first military clashes between the United States and Iran, which followed the signing of a preliminary agreement framework in mid-June.
In an official statement, Bahrain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the early Saturday drone attack as a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty.” It placed full responsibility on Tehran for reigniting tensions and sabotaging ongoing peace negotiations. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for its part, announced it had launched strikes against American military positions in the Persian Gulf region in retaliation for prior US strikes on targets inside Iran.
At the same time, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) upgraded the risk assessment for commercial vessels operating in the area to “substantial.” The decision was made following US strikes on Iranian targets, which were themselves carried out in response to an earlier attack on a cargo vessel earlier in the week.
Strait of Hormuz: New attack despite ceasefire
Despite a temporary de-escalation agreement between the United States and Iran, Western naval forces had advised commercial ships to use the southern route, hugging the Omani coastline, in order to minimize risks.
However, on Thursday the container ship Ever Lovely was attacked while navigating that very corridor — marking the first recorded attack since the temporary ceasefire was announced. The JMIC also noted that the corridor had been widened to accommodate higher traffic volumes in both directions.
Tehran’s warnings and the US response
Iranian authorities had once again warned that no vessels would be permitted to transit outside the designated shipping lane defined by Tehran. Earlier in the week, several ships reportedly altered course following radio warnings instructing them to avoid passage through the strait.
Thursday’s attack drew a swift response from Washington. US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that on Friday, American aircraft carried out strikes against Iranian missile and drone storage facilities, as well as coastal radar systems.
Following the latest tanker incident on Saturday, the British Royal Navy’s maritime security agency upgraded the safety level for the Strait of Hormuz to “substantial,” warning of heightened risk in the area.
