Ship attack reports near Hormuz reach record high as oil exports slow

The number of ships reporting attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz has reached a record high, according to a BBC Verify analysis of data from a UK maritime agency. Between October 5 and 11, twelve vessels were attacked, marking the largest number of weekly strikes reported to the UK's Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) since the onset of the US-Israeli war with Iran. The previous week saw ten ships reporting attacks, with six vessels struck last Sunday alone, a one-day high. So far this week, there have been four reported attacks.

As the number of strikes has increased, the recovery in oil shipments through the strait, observed last month, has slowed, according to industry data. BBC Verify compiled incident reports published by the UKMTO and created a timeline based on the first date cited in each report, noting that some incidents use the date of the attack while others use the reporting date.

Experts suggest that Tehran has been targeting ships to assert greater control over the waterway, especially as the US military has increased the number of tankers it is escorting through the southern part of the strait to avoid Iranian strikes. Furthermore, Iran is reportedly conducting more attacks on vessels further away from the Strait of Hormuz.

The US military's Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, stated on social media that despite the attacks, "commercial traffic continues to flow through the Strait of Hormuz with coordinated protection from US forces and regional partners."