Wave of Attacks on Ships in the Strait of Hormuz Drops Oil Flow
As maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz faces the most intense wave of attacks since the start of the Iran war, oil shipments have dropped by more than half.
Maritime trade routes around the Strait of Hormuz have witnessed the most intense and destructive wave of attacks since the beginning of the war. A total of 24 ships have been targeted in the past two weeks, causing global oil flows to fall well below pre-war levels.
Intense Wave of Attacks in Hormuz
Ships around the Strait of Hormuz faced the worst wave of attacks since the beginning of the war. According to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations data, at least six ships were hit on Sunday alone.
This incident was recorded as the most intense barrage against tankers and cargo vessels since the war began on February 28.
Late-Reported Incidents and Iranian Media
All ships sent late reports of being hit by unknown munitions or missiles while attempting to exit the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media featured footage of burning tankers in the water.
For example, an oil tanker named MT Petro Dolphin was targeted and set ablaze by a drone attack off the coast of Oman on October 11, 2026.
Transponder Shutdowns and Security Sources
The frequency of the attacks escalated after oil flows in the Persian Gulf began to rise again under the escort of U.S. military vessels. UKMTO and European security sources confirmed that a total of 24 ships were hit.
While ships shutting off their transponder data to avoid detection delayed reporting, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard had stated that ships in this condition would be targeted on the grounds of illegal smuggling.
Assessments by Military Experts
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War pointed out that Iran has improved its ability to target ships and that the attacks could worsen.
According to the institute's analysis, Iranian forces may be strengthening their capacity to disrupt maritime traffic by enhancing their anti-ship missile capabilities.
Severe Drop in Oil Flow
According to data from maritime analytics firm Kpler, the attacks caused a significant drop in oil flows through the strait. Last month, it had reached a peak averaging 15.5 million barrels per day.
During Sunday's attacks, only 2.9 million barrels of oil were able to pass through the strait, while the seven-day average flow remained 43% below pre-war levels.
Reflections on Markets and Prices
As global oil prices maintained their volatile course under the renewed wave of attacks, the Brent crude benchmark traded above $105 a barrel.
The average U.S. gasoline price remained above $4.31 a gallon, while diesel fuel stood at $6.27 a gallon on Tuesday.