Published July 7th, 2026 - 04:08 GMT
Highlights
.S. officials described the attacks as "aggressive" and said they constituted a direct violation of the recently signed memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at reducing tensions.
ALBAWABA- Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched attacks on three commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz within 24 hours, according to U.S. officials and British maritime authorities, escalating tensions in one of the world's most critical energy corridors.The British Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a new security incident involving an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, while U.S. officials told Axios and NBC News that the IRGC targeted three commercial ships over the past 24 hours.According to the officials, one vessel was struck by a drone, while a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) carrier and a Saudi oil tanker were hit by short-range, high-speed missiles during nighttime attacks. The vessels were reportedly sailing along routes designated by U.S. authorities and had ignored warnings issued by Iranian forces.⚠️ Three tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz.A Qatari LNG carrier was hit and set ablaze and two other commercial ships were damaged in separate attacks. Thankfully, there are no reports of crew casualties or major pollution so far. pic.twitter.com/DJndMK03Jr— The Maritime (@themaritimenet) July 7, 2026 U.S. officials described the attacks as "aggressive" and said they constituted a direct violation of the recently signed memorandum of understanding between Washington and Tehran aimed at reducing tensions. They added that U.S. forces intercepted and shot down several Iranian drones launched during the incidents.The latest attacks follow an earlier IRGC strike on the Qatari tanker Al Rakayat, which Doha condemned as a violation of international law and a threat to the security of international shipping and global energy supplies.Maritime security sources expressed particular concern over the damage sustained by the Qatari gas carrier, warning that the vessel faces a heightened risk of explosion. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation for potential environmental hazards and risks to the crew.The attacks come despite a fragile ceasefire and a 60-day U.S.-Iran negotiation framework intended to pave the way for a broader diplomatic agreement. The renewed violence threatens to undermine those efforts and further destabilize the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and a significant share of global LNG exports transit.
