Middle East war: Oil prices remain elevated amid repeated vessel attacks
Crude oil prices have remained largely elevated amid continued vessel attacks in the Persian Gulf, as the Middle East war rages on.
IMAGE: Getty Images
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a vessel came under attack earlier today, approximately 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji, Saudi Arabia.
The tanker was passing through the Arabian Gulf when it was struck by two unknown projectiles on the port side, the UKMTO reported.
Another merchant vessel was struck by an unknown projectile within the Strait of Hormuz on 1 November, starting a fire onboard, the UKMTO said in a separate report. A third vessel relayed a Mayday call, after sighting the blaze.
A Mayday call is an internationally recognised radio distress signal used by marine and aviation crew to signal a life-threatening emergency requiring urgent rescue.
“Vessels have faced a growing number of attacks in recent weeks,” two analysts from ING Bank noted.
Only 13 vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz on Friday - five inbound and eight outbound, according to market intelligence provider Windward. Four of these vessels moved in dark mode. An average of 129 vessels crossed the strait per day in February, before the war commenced, according to UN Trade and Development.
US-Iran trade accusations again
Washington and Tehran exchanged fresh counteraccusations over maritime control and safe operations within the Strait of Hormuz.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has dismissed claims that Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) destroyed a US military sea drone in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military has labelled the claims as fabricated, calling them “false” on social media platform X.
According to CENTCOM, all unmanned surface vessels deployed by the US military in the Middle East are accounted for, including a squadron of advanced sea drones on patrol in the Strait of Hormuz.
Currently, there are more than 50,000 US service members, supporting US operations across the Middle East, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper said in a statement.
By Aparupa Mazumder
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