Four Tankers Hit Mines in Strait of Hormuz as November Ship Attacks Top 10
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Nov 12
Four Tankers Hit Mines in Strait of Hormuz as November Ship Attacks Top 10
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Nov 12
Summary
Four oil tankers were struck by explosions in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday and Thursday, with Iran's military saying two more vessels hit mines on Thursday afternoon and caught fire.
Iran said the ships had ignored warnings, entered restricted areas and in some cases disabled radar systems while using what it called an unauthorised route through the eastern and southern strait.
UKMTO separately reported a vessel was hit by an unidentified projectile 14 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al-Khaimah on Wednesday, sparking an engine-room fire; all crew were evacuated.
The attacks show tanker risks persist despite hopes of a US-Iran war de-escalation and a rebound in traffic, with at least 10 ships hit in the first 10 days of November after 37 attacks in October.
With insurance premiums surging and ships burning, can the global economy survive a complete shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz?
How will Oman's strict new 2026 maritime rules reshape commercial shipping and security in the world's most critical energy chokepoint?
If international navies cannot stop asymmetric attacks on oil tankers, are alternative pipelines enough to prevent a global energy crisis?
November 2026 Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Shipping Attacks, Energy Market Disruption, and Regional Escalation
Overview
The 2026 Strait of Hormuz crisis began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran, triggering a massive Iranian missile and drone counter-offensive across the Middle East. This escalation led to widespread attacks on Gulf energy infrastructure, causing GCC oil production to plummet and forcing Gulf states like the UAE and Qatar to take drastic diplomatic and military actions. By November, Iran’s IRGC targeted commercial vessels, including the Qatari Al Rekayyat and Saudi NCC Fajr, severely restricting shipping and causing global oil and LNG prices to soar. Emergency measures, such as IEA’s record oil reserve release, could not fully stabilize markets, while seafarers faced deadly risks and regional security alliances shifted dramatically.