Tankers hit mines near Hormuz, fires break out
Iran's Revolutionary Guards say four oil tankers caught fire after striking sea mines while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz, with three blasts occurring in the past 24 hours on an unauthorized southern route. The Guards say the vessels had switched off radar and navigation and ignored their navy's warnings, and the ships were abandoned on the strait's southern shores. A fourth tanker burned east of the strait, according to the Iranian army. UK Maritime Trade Operations separately reported a small boat attaching two explosive devices to a tanker 25 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, disabling it with an engine room fire, though its crew were reported safe. US Central Command says it has cleared mines from the main transit routes.
Key facts
- US Central Command says it helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since summer.
- Iran has imposed severe traffic restrictions through the waterway since the war began on 28 February.
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Why it matters
The strait normally carries about one-fifth of global oil and gas consumption, so shipping disruption there affects energy supplies.
What changed
First published from Middle East Eye, Asharq Al-Awsat, The Hindu, Al Jazeera English and CNA