Iran's IRGC Fires Missiles at Commercial Vessels in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly fired at least two missiles at commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening, damaging two ships. The incident was reported by US media outlet Axios, citing two unnamed US officials.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the IRGC had warned vessels via maritime radio over the weekend that “missiles and drones are ready to fire at you.” One of the ships hit was identified as the Al Rekayyat, a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker owned and managed by Qatar’s Nakilat. The vessel was struck on the port side, directly above the engine room, causing a fire and heavy smoke. All crew members survived and gathered on the starboard side.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker caught fire after being hit by an unidentified projectile in waters east of Limah, Oman. The vessel was struck on its port side while sailing south, approximately 15 kilometres east of Limah. No casualties or environmental impact were reported.

Tehran has not issued an official statement on the attacks. The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass, has seen heightened risks to commercial shipping amid the ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel, despite temporary agreements that include safe passage provisions.