At least three container ships were struck by gunfire in the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, maritime security sources and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported, marking the highest single-day vessel-incident count of the current crisis.
A Liberia-flagged container ship sustained damage to its bridge after being hit by gunfire and rocket-propelled grenades northeast of Oman, according to UKMTO. The master reported being approached by an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) gunboat before the vessel came under fire. All crew members were safe, and UKMTO said there was no fire on board and no environmental impact.
Wednesday’s incidents follow UKMTO Warnings 041-26 and 043-26 earlier the same day, which documented the IRGC gunboat attack on the Liberia-flagged ship and a separate strike on an outbound cargo vessel eight nautical miles west of Iran. The cumulative UKMTO tally for the crisis period dating from 28 February now stands at 36 incidents, with 22 confirmed attacks.
Iran has imposed restrictions on shipping using the strait — initially as retaliation for the US-Israeli bombardment of the country, and more recently in response to the US naval blockade of Iranian ports. Tasnim news agency has framed IRGC interdictions as “maritime law enforcement” against vessels that ignore Iranian warnings.
The Wednesday escalation comes hours after US President Donald Trump indefinitely extended the ceasefire at Pakistan’s request, suggesting IRGC operations are continuing independently of the political track. Global shipping associations have previously warned that each armed incident on a commercial vessel raises war-risk insurance premiums and reroutes tankers — consequences that directly affect Sri Lanka’s fuel import costs.
