THE U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) on Thursday raised the security threat level for the Middle East Maritime Region to "severe" following a series of attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
The advisory was issued by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The JMIC is a multinational naval advisory body, and the UKMTO serves as one of its core information-sharing partners.
At least four maritime safety incidents involving oil tankers occurred in the Strait of Hormuz between September 28 to 29, the advisory said.
On Sept 28, an oil tanker leaving the Strait of Hormuz was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a small fire on board that was quickly extinguished. On Sept 29, three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz were hit by unidentified projectiles. The crews of two of the tankers were unharmed, and the vessels subsequently underwent damage assessments. The status of the crew and the extent of damage to the third tanker are still under investigation.
Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority said on Thursday that several oil tankers were struck in the Strait of Hormuz over the past days, of which the last three ones are owned or rented by the United Arab Emirates. It identified the vessels as "Al Ruwais," "Sinbad," and "Mersin Prosperity."
The three oil tankers have passed through the Strait of Hormuz multiple times over the past two months, and their names appeared on the most recently updated list of non-compliance released by the body.
Iran tightened its grip on the Strait of Hormuz on Feb 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
