Iran is escalating its campaign in the Strait of Hormuz, striking back after the US Navy successfully broke the regime's stranglehold on the critical waterway in recent months.
Sources in Iran and the Gulf report a sharp rise in Iranian attacks on ships and oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz without Tehran's approval. The spike follows an announcement by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps just over a week ago of an "operation to reinforce sovereignty in Hormuz."
At least 10 vessels have been hit since Sunday in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the highest number in months. Six ships were struck on Sunday alone, the highest single-day toll since the war began, followed by four more on Tuesday.
The incidents have been documented by the maritime security firm Vanguard, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), and the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which recorded the initial strikes.
At least two vessels have sunk in recent days following Iranian attacks. The GFS Pride, sailing under a Singapore flag, went down after being hit by an Iranian missile during the week. The Cape Dao, flagged in Antigua and Barbuda, sank on Wednesday.
Many analysts see the campaign as an Iranian attempt to restore the relevance of the Hormuz pressure point, which the US Navy had largely neutralized in a successful operation that significantly weakened Tehran's leverage. The regime now appears to be trying to reclaim attention, likely also in an effort to undermine President Trump ahead of the midterm elections.
