Five vessels attacked in Gulf and Strait of Hormuz amid regional tensions

Dubai: A series of attacks targeted five merchant vessels in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, as ongoing regional conflicts have increasingly placed commercial shipping at risk.

According to reports, armed Iranian boats carried out assaults on two tankers operating in Iraqi waters. In a separate incident, a Thailand-flagged bulk carrier, the Mayuree Naree, was damaged off the coast of Oman. The vessel was seen engulfed in black smoke on March 11, 2026, as per Reuters.

Most of the crew members from the Mayuree Naree were evacuated following the attack, but three individuals are feared missing. The circumstances surrounding the attacks on the other vessels have not been detailed in the available reports.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime passage for global oil shipments, and recent hostilities in the region have heightened concerns over the safety of merchant shipping. These incidents underscore the growing risks faced by commercial vessels transiting through these strategic waterways.

Authorities have not yet provided further details regarding the identities of the other affected vessels or the full extent of the damage. Investigations into the attacks are ongoing.