Global
The Strait of Hormuz has experienced a sharp decline in maritime traffic, with only five ships passing through in the past 24 hours amid reports of attacks on tankers and fires breaking out on vessels in the area, coinciding with the United States intensifying its naval measures against Iran. Data from a specialized monitoring site revealed 138 ships waiting in queue, including 45 oil tankers and 35 bulk cargo ships, while the total tonnage of crossing vessels did not exceed 103,000 tons, approximately 1% of the usual daily average. Additionally, a maritime tracking platform recorded eight ships crossing on Saturday, compared to 26 the previous day, marking a nearly 70% decrease. In a related development, the U.S. Central Command announced the disabling of a cargo ship flying the flag of Saint Kitts in the Gulf of Oman, after accusing its crew of attempting to breach the blockade imposed on Iran. It stated that its forces fired precision-guided munitions at the ship, noting that since July, the naval measures have resulted in rerouting 147 ships and disabling five vessels that refused to comply. These incidents coincided with multiple maritime events, including a tanker hit by an unknown projectile while passing through the strait, a fire on a tanker near the Omani coast, and an incident involving a bulk cargo ship and military forces near Khor Fakkan in the UAE.
