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

Two merchant vessels sank in or near the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday following strikes from unidentified projectiles. The incident marks the latest escalation in a series of attacks on commercial shipping that have intensified since late February. The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride suffered damage and onboard fire while transiting the strait on Tuesday. It subsequently sank, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. All twenty-one crew members were safely evacuated without injury. The authority described the attacks on commercial shipping as unprovoked and a violation of international law. Simultaneously, the Cape Dao, a dry bulk carrier registered in Antigua and Barbuda, sank near the strait. The vessel had been damaged in an attack on September 23, which killed one crew member. The ship drifted adrift and burning until it eventually went under. Social media footage showed cargo, including mobile phones and luxury goods, floating in the water nearby, with individuals in small boats retrieving the items. These incidents represent the second and third ship losses attributed to Iranian actions since the start of the current conflict. The first victim was the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, hit by a missile on March 4. A UAE-flagged tugboat, the Mussafah 2, attempting to assist on March 6, was also struck by missiles. The Safeen Prestige finally sank off the coast of Oman around April 1. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for one of the recent sinkings, stating a cargo ship struck a naval mine laid by the group. The IRGC alleged the vessel used an unauthorized route. Their statement included images of a sinking ship dropping containers into the sea. Meanwhile, the UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported that two unnamed container ships were hit by unknown projectiles on Tuesday evening but managed to continue their voyages with minor damage. Iranian state media also reported an oil tanker catching fire in a prohibited zone with tracking disabled, though Iranian forces did not claim direct responsibility for that specific incident. Senior Iranian officials indicated that Tehran has adopted new tactics over the past ten days to target civilian vessels. These methods aim to keep oil prices elevated to impact political outcomes during upcoming U.S. midterm elections. One tactic involves using small spotter boats to identify targets, bypassing radar systems previously damaged by American airstrikes. U.S. forces reportedly destroyed at least one such boat last week. Analysts suggest the targeting area is expanding to include Omani and Emirati waters. Officials predict these operations could halt traffic through the strait entirely before November elections.