In the escalating Israel-Iran war that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28, 2026, several cargo ships were struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz on March 10. The UKMTO reported crew evacuations with all safe, amid drone attacks and Iranian retaliation threats.
The Strait of Hormuz incidents underscore the conflict's intensification more than 10 days into the war. A UKMTO advisory detailed a cargo ship north of Oman hit by a projectile, catching fire and forcing crew evacuation. A bulk carrier off Dubai and a container ship at the strait entrance were also struck, though crews remained safe.
These attacks follow an Israeli airstrike on a Tehran bank branch that killed several employees, prompting Iran's military to threaten retaliation and urge civilians to avoid banks. Iran's Chatam Al-Anbija headquarters warned, "The Americans should wait for our countermeasure and our painful response."
Separately, two Iranian drones hit near Dubai airport, injuring four foreigners (two Ghanaians, one Bangladeshi, one Indian); flights continued uninterrupted. Iranian-linked tankers transited the strait, some disabling AIS transponders. Iran resumed oil exports from the Jask terminal, with one tanker loading two million barrels on March 7.
Regional responses included Qatar rejecting mediation amid attacks, per State Minister Mohammed bin Saleh al-Khulaifi. Saudi Arabia downed seven ballistic missiles and seven drones, Kuwait intercepted four drones, and air raid sirens blared in Bahrain. Iran's new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has remained silent since his father Ali Khamenei's death on February 28.
