Drone attacks on 3 more ships passing through Strait of Hormuz

TEHRAN: Three more ships have been hit by unidentified drones in the Strait of Hormuz, bringing the total number of ships hit in the region since the Iran conflict began to 14.

Shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has been at a near standstill since the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on February 28, disrupting oil exports and sending oil prices to their highest levels since 2022.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ship passing through the passage will be targeted, while US President Donald Trump has threatened to escalate attacks if Iran continues to obstruct the route.

A Thai-flagged ship was hit by two unidentified drones while sailing through the passage on Wednesday, causing a fire and damage to the engine room.

According to the company, three crew members are missing and are feared trapped in the engine room. The remaining 20 crew members were safely evacuated to the Oman coast.

Images provided by the Thai Navy showed smoke rising from the rear of the ship. The Iranian Guards confirmed that the ship was targeted by Iranian fighter jets.

The US Navy has refused to provide a military squadron through the Strait of Hormuz despite repeated requests from commercial ships since the start of the war, but President Trump has said the US is ready to provide a naval squadron if needed.

Meanwhile, a Japanese-flagged ship was also targeted by an unidentified drone, causing minor damage, but the crew was unharmed.

A third ship, a bulk carrier, was hit by an unidentified drone 50 miles northwest of Dubai, also unharmed in that attack.

The Iranian Guards’ statement also mentioned another ship that it claimed was attacked by a drone.

The incident further raises concerns about the safety of commercial shipping amid heightened tensions between Iran and the US.