Two cargo vessels sink in escalating attacks near Strait of Hormuz
Two commercial ships, the Singapore-flagged GFS Pride and the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged Cape Dao, sank this week after being struck by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil shipping route. At least one crew member was killed in the attacks, which Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps justified by claiming the vessels were using an illegal route. The surge in attacks represents the sharpest rise in Iranian strikes on shipping since the start of the US-Israel conflict, with analysts suggesting Tehran aims to disrupt the waterway before the American midterm elections on 3 November.
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Two commercial vessels sank this week after being struck by projectiles near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most critical oil-shipping chokepoints. Maritime security sources described the incidents as a deliberate escalation of attacks on commercial shipping. The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank on Wednesday, a day after being hit by projectiles, while the Antigua and Barbuda-flagged dry bulk carrier Cape Dao also sank following an attack. At least one crew member was killed.
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the vessels had been navigating through what it called an illegal and dangerous route. UK Maritime Trade Operations reported at least five incidents, including drone strikes, in the Hormuz area over the preceding 48 hours, targeting tankers and other commercial ships in the region.
According to The Guardian, the recent surge in attacks represents the sharpest rise in Iranian strikes on shipping since the outbreak of the US-Israel war with Iran. Analysts suggest that Tehran is attempting to disrupt the strategic waterway in order to frustrate US efforts to lower fuel prices ahead of the American midterm elections on 3 November. The Trump administration has reportedly sought to attribute rising fuel prices to Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries rather than to the conflict with Iran.
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