Two ships sink near Hormuz after being hit by projectiles amid surge in attacks

Two ships sank near the Strait of Hormuz following attacks involving unidentified projectiles, according to multiple reports. The incidents occurred on Tuesday and earlier this month, raising concerns over the safety of commercial shipping in the region. The Singapore-flagged container vessel GFS Pride sustained damage and a fire while transiting the strait on Tuesday and later sank, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). All 21 crew members were safely evacuated with no injuries reported. Separately, the Cape Dao, a dry bulk carrier registered in Antigua and Barbuda, sank near the strait after sustaining damage from an attack on September 23. One crew member died in the incident. Social media posts showed footage of cargo drifting in the water, likely from the Cape Dao. These are the second and third ships to sink due to alleged Iranian attacks since late February, when tensions between the U.S. and Iran escalated. The first was the Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige, which was struck by a missile on March 4 and eventually sank off the coast of Oman around April 1. A tugboat attempting to assist it was also hit by Iranian missiles. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that a cargo ship struck a naval mine while traveling through an unauthorized route in the strait. Photos accompanying the statement depicted a vessel sinking from its rear, releasing numerous containers into the sea. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that two unnamed container ships were struck by unknown projectiles on Tuesday evening but managed to continue their journeys with minimal damage. Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported that an oil tanker caught fire in a prohibited zone with its tracking systems disabled, though they did not claim responsibility for the attack. Senior Iranian officials reportedly told Reuters that Iran has adopted new tactics to disrupt shipping in the strait, aiming to maintain high oil prices ahead of U.S. elections. These methods reportedly involve smaller boats instead of traditional radar-based targeting. U.S. forces have already destroyed at least one such boat. Reports suggest that Iranian attacks are increasingly extending beyond the strait into the waters of Oman and the UAE.