Commercial ships in the Persian Gulf are being targeted by Iran amid the escalating war between Iran and the United States. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint, has reportedly been closed to most non-Iranian vessels.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Centre, three vessels were hit with suspected projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf on Wednesday. This comes after a projectile hit a container ship off the coast of Oman, forcing most of the crew to abandon the vessel.
The UK navy reported that the other vessels included a container vessel west of Ras Al-Khaimah and a bulk carrier northwest of Dubai. Iran has also targeted oil fields and refiners across the Gulf nations, aiming to create global economic pain to pressure the US and Israel into ending their strikes.
The UAE closed one of the world's largest oil refineries as a precaution following a drone attack nearby. US President Donald Trump warned Iran of fresh military consequences amid reports of mines in the Strait of Hormuz, saying that there will be action at a level never before seen if Tehran does not remove the alleged mines.
