October Sets Record With 12 Maritime Attacks in Gulf Waters
New incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and Saudi airspace push the monthly incident count to its highest level since tracking began in 2017.
By Jayden Sweiler ·
October has become the worst month on record for attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters, according to data from a Washington-based think tank that has monitored maritime security incidents globally since 2017. The surge in violence coincides with renewed aerial threats over the Gulf, marking a sharp escalation in regional security concerns.
The latest developments on 24 October included two distinct maritime incidents. The navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that two supertankers struck naval mines while attempting to use an unauthorized route south of the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile seven nautical miles off the Omani coast.
Simultaneously, the Saudi-led coalition forces stated that they intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and a drone fired toward Saudi territory. The Directorate of Civil Defence in Saudi Arabia issued a warning to residents in Riyadh, Najran, and Wadi al-Dawasir, advising them to follow safety instructions before confirming that the immediate danger had passed minutes later.
The military activity follows a period of rising diplomatic tension. On 24 October, US President Donald Trump told a rally in Florida that Washington might launch another military operation against Iran. In response, Major General Abdollahi, the chief of staff for Iran’s armed forces, declared that under no circumstances would rusting US warships be allowed to re-enter the Persian Gulf. Mohammed Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, characterized the threats of war from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as signs of desperation rather than power.
Diplomatic efforts are ongoing alongside the military posturing. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to Moscow next week, where he is expected to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin. He will also participate in the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit on 27 October. In London, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that Britain is redoubling its efforts to find diplomatic solutions, noting that the conflict is driving up bills for British families.
Regional unrest extended to the occupied West Bank, where Israeli forces ordered Palestinian residents of Hebron to leave their homes on foot. Troops demolished several buildings near the site where two Israeli soldiers were shot dead and detained dozens of people during raids. In Syria, protest rallies were held on Friday against repeated Israeli incursions in the south, following an earlier strike that killed a man with a disability.
Source: Middle East Eye
