Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz
(as at Thursday 30 July 2026 at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time)
Since 16/7, there have been seven attacks on merchant vessels in the Persian Gulf, detailed below:
- 17/7, Marshall Islands-flagged IDI hit by projectile. No fire or injuries were reported.
- 17/7, tanker BELMA hit by projectile from US blockading forces. This was the second US attack on the vessel, the first occurred on 15/7 and was reported in the last emergency events call.
- 20/7, Liberia-flagged tanker ACHELOOS struck by a projectile. All crew members were reported safe.
- 20/7, Malta-flagged tanker KAVOMALEAS was hit by a projectile. All crew members safely evacuated the vessel and have been reported safe. Satellite imagery from 21 July showed an oil spill seeping from the ship as it drifted near Larak Island, it is unknown if the ship is under the control of the Iranian authorities.
- 21/7, Kuwaiti-flagged tanker KAIFAN was struck by a projectile, causing a fire. After attempting to extinguish the fire, the crew evacuated the vessel, and two crew members sustained minor injuries.
- 24/7: US forces employed disabling fire towards the engine room of a tanker that attempted to breach the American blockade at least four times.
- 24/7, Mozambique-flagged liquified petroleum gas carrier DISHA was struck by a missile. All crew members were safely rescued. It has been reported via released VHF recordings that US military personnel had warned the vessel that it was in danger of breaching the US blockade by heading towards Iranian waters just before the strike. There has been no official comment from the US on this incident.
No strikes against merchant ships in the Persian Gulf have occurred since 25/7, coinciding with talks between Iran and Oman on the governance of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Aggressive hailing and surveillance of merchant ships by the IRGC is ongoing, messages to ships are focused on route enforcement as Iran attempts to establish control over the traffic in the strait.
- Mine clearance efforts from USN are still underway, albeit at a slower pace due to a less permissive environment.
- USN still providing facilitated transits via Omani coastal waters south of the TSS are ongoing. Protection assets for these transits remain air based.
Red Sea
- Following Saudi Arabia’s attack on Sanaa Airport, the Houthi movement announced a naval blockade and maritime embargo of Saudi Arabia. Ships carrying Saudi cargo or destined for Saudi ports on the Red Sea are now at a high risk of attack from the Houthis in the Southern Red Sea.
- There’s been two confirmed attacks against merchant shipping in the Red Sea since the Houthi’s 20/7 blockade announcement:
- 22/7, Saudi Arabia-flagged ENCELIA struck by a projectile, causing a fire on board. No casualties or environmental damages were reported.
- 29/7, Marshall Islands-flagged FSRU ENERGOS WINTER struck by a drone at Damietta port, Egypt. The strike caused a fire, which was eventually contained. The crew was evacuated safely. It has been observed that verifying the details of the reported 29 July attack on Damietta Port in Egypt has been challenging.
- 29/7, Bermuda-flagged GASLOG SALEM impacted by fire caused by the drone attack on the ENERGOS WINTER.
- Operation Aspides (EU NAVFOR) is still providing close protection for those who want to transit the Bab al-Mandeb, however with recently increased demand and a strain on assets, attendees should expect delays from the Aspides side.
- On 17/7, the Tanzania-flagged tanker ASANA was boarded by Somali-origin pirates while transiting east in the Gulf of Aden. By 18/7, the vessel had been moved into Somali territorial waters and is being held by nine Somali pirates off the coast of the Puntland region.
Shipping companies are reminded to consult the BMP-MS and remain within the IRTC if they intend to transit the Bab al-Mandeb and larger Red Sea region.
