Several oil tankers navigating near the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by Iranian forces overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, escalating tensions in the region and raising fears of disruption to global energy supplies.
According to reports, two tankers were attacked off the coast of Iraq, leaving one person dead, while Iranian forces also set fire to a Thai cargo ship. Iranian drones reportedly targeted Dubai airport during the same series of attacks.
Officials say that around twenty vessels have been attacked since the beginning of the conflict. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned they would “burn alive anyone attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” threatening further escalation.
The group also declared that if attacks on Iran continue, they would block oil exports from the Middle East to the United States, Israel and their allies.
The situation is particularly concerning because the Strait of Hormuz handles around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. Disruptions along this key maritime route have already caused sharp fluctuations in global oil prices.
In response, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced the release of 400 million barrels of oil from emergency reserves held by its 32 member countries to help stabilize markets and reduce supply disruptions.
Source: Newstimehub
