Iran Hits Six Ships in One Day at Hormuz, a War Record

On October 13, 2026, a tanker and a container ship were struck by unknown projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, north of the Musandam Peninsula. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre confirmed both incidents. UKMTO reported no damage figures or crew status.

The strikes came at the tail end of a stretch Anadolu Agency described as six ships hit in a single day, the highest count since the US-Iran war began on 28 February. Over 18 commercial ships were attacked in the first 12 days of October, according to the same report.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps said it was targeting ships conducting oil transfers between ship and ship in what it called illegal oil smuggling. Two Iranian officials told Reuters that the aim was to disrupt US-sponsored oil exports moving through the strait.

The October 13 attacks came a day after Iran refused to reopen the strait as two more tankers were struck nearby and extended a campaign that had already produced a record 12 tanker strikes in the week of 28 September to 5 October.