Iran hits two UAE tankers in Strait of Hormuz as US carries out third night of strikes

BBC News  |  Peter Hoskins, Cai Pigliucci

The United States military conducted its third consecutive night of precision airstrikes against Iranian coastal defences, missile sites, and maritime capabilities to secure the Strait of Hormuz. This escalation followed an Iranian cruise missile attack on two United Arab Emirates tankers, which killed one crew member and injured eight others.

To counter these persistent maritime threats, President Donald Trump announced the reinstatement of a naval blockade of Iranian ports, enforced by US Central Command starting Tuesday. The administration also proposed a twenty percent charge on transiting cargo to fund security, a move the International Maritime Organization declared lacks legal basis. In response, the regime struck US facilities in Bahrain and Jordan, while global Brent crude prices surged by nine percent on Monday. With Iran-backed Houthis also targeting Saudi infrastructure, regional maritime security threat levels remain severe as blockading forces prepare to monitor all commercial transit routes.

Comment

New Delhi must urgently reassess its maritime security posture in the western Indian Ocean. The targeting of Indian seafarers highlights the direct vulnerability of commercial shipping to regional proxy warfare. The Indian Navy should expand its independent escort operations to safeguard critical energy lanes. Reliance on external security architectures no longer guarantees the safety of national assets.

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