Middle East — 2026-10-10

Near Daily Strikes on Ships in Strait of Hormuz Hit Highest Weekly Total Since US-Iran War Began

BLUFStrike tempo in the Strait of Hormuz has not slowed, ensuring war-risk premiums stay elevated even as official IMO tallies lag the actual pace of attacks by days.

Maritime security sources told Reuters 12 that at least 12 attacks hit oil, LNG and LPG tankers around the Strait of Hormuz between September 28 and October 5, the most in any week since the war began on February 28. The International Maritime Organization recorded nine incidents in the same week, and its prior high was eight in the week of July 13 1. Between October 1 and Tuesday the IMO logged nine ships struck, and UKMTO advisories reported further strikes on Wednesday off Qatar and Friday off the UAE 3. Lloyd's List Intelligence counted 143 transits from September 28 to Wednesday, up three on the prior week, while India's foreign ministry said 12 crew were injured when a projectile hit the tanker On Peace 13.

Analysis
The IMO is unlikely to record at least nine ship incidents around Hormuz in the week of October 5-11, matching the record week. Confidence is low because the IMO verifies slowly and the week's data are incomplete, so its count runs well behind actual strikes. Tempo has not slowed: UKMTO logged further hits off Qatar on Wednesday and off the UAE on Friday, and transits rose to 143. Sourcing traces to Reuters, with other outlets adding the IMO and UKMTO figures but no independent incident count. The record may partly reflect better reporting and more exposed shuttle traffic rather than heightened Iranian targeting. Underwriters should expect war-risk pricing to stay high and can keep current shuttle schedules unless the IMO count reaches nine, which would prompt higher premiums and paused sailings.

3 sources

Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say - Al-Monitor (Reuters)
Attacks on tankers in Hormuz hit highest of any week since start of Iran war, sources say - gCaptain (Reuters)
October Sees Near Daily Strikes on Ships in Hormuz - USNI News