Middle East — 2026-10-09

Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attacks Hit Highest Weekly Level Since Iran War Began

BLUFFurther tanker attacks in or near the Strait of Hormuz will very likely continue through October, as Iran's targeting now extends beyond its stated non-compliant list to unrelated Kuwaiti-flagged vessels.

At least 12 attacks on oil, LNG and LPG tankers were recorded around the Strait of Hormuz between September 28 and October 5, the highest weekly count since the war began on February 28, according to three maritime security sources cited by Marine Insight 1. The IMO logged nine incidents in the same week, a gap sources attributed partly to its slower verification 1. UKMTO warnings tallied at least six vessels struck from September 28 through October 2, several disclosed late, including the Kuwaiti VLCC Kazimah III on October 1 234. Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said targets included ships on its 82-vessel non-compliant list, though two Kuwaiti-controlled tankers hit were not listed 4. UKMTO reported an unidentified tanker struck by multiple projectiles north of Qatar on October 7, with casualties but no figures given 1.

Analysis
At least one further commercial tanker attack in or near the Strait of Hormuz or the Persian Gulf will very likely be recorded by UKMTO between October 10 and October 31. We have high confidence, because maritime security sources, UKMTO warnings and trade press show the same sustained tempo, including the October 7 strike north of Qatar. Sourcing is thinner than it looks, since several outlets repeat the same UKMTO warnings and the weekly peak rests on unnamed sources at one outlet. Official tallies will trail actual strikes by days because of late disclosures and slower IMO verification. The peak may partly reflect delayed disclosures landing in one window rather than escalation. Iran has also hit Kuwaiti-controlled tankers outside its 82-vessel list, so listing no longer signals exposure. If attacks continue, owners, insurers and Gulf oil companies must keep war-risk premiums, shuttle routing and crew limits in place.

4 sources

Strait Of Hormuz Tanker Attacks Hit Highest Weekly Level Since US-Iran War Began - Marine Insight
Six Vessels Hit in Strait of Hormuz Since Sunday - gCaptain
Tanker Catches Fire After First Hormuz Attack in October - Seatrade Maritime
Two More Tankers in Hormuz Report Strikes, Bringing Total to Six in a Week - Maritime Executive