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2026-10-31 00:02:24
[Rare Speedboat Attack in Strait of Hormuz Yesterday, Tanker Engine Room Catches Fire] The UK's Office for Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that on October 29th, a tanker was attacked by speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz. The attackers used explosives to damage the large vessel's engine. This is the first such attack in the current conflict, and Iran has previously used similar tactics to attack merchant ships. The UKMTO said the attack on Thursday was carried out by several people on a small speedboat. The explosion occurred above the waterline, causing no injuries. The fire temporarily rendered the vessel inoperable, but the tanker subsequently continued its voyage. These types of weapons are known as "adhesive mines" and are typically fixed near the waterline or hull of a ship to maximize the extent of damage. A US official stated earlier this week that no vessels had previously encountered floating mines while transiting the strait. Iran claimed responsibility for attacks with adhesive mines on its ships in 2021 and 2024. Earlier, a Liberian-flagged oil tanker was found with a suspicious object on its hull near the Iraqi coast. It was later identified as an absorbent mine, which Iraqi security forces subsequently removed.
