Limpet Mines Strike Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

Commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz faces escalating security threats after a Panama-flagged oil tanker carrying 27 Indian sailors was struck by limpet mines near Oman. The attack on Louise 1 occurred on Thursday, approximately 25 nautical miles (46 kilometers) northeast of Khasab, raising concerns about maritime safety during the ongoing US-Iran war.

India's Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal confirmed that all 27 Indian crew members aboard the vessel were safe and had suffered no injuries. The incident followed another attack involving a separate tanker carrying Indian crew members on October 29, highlighting repeated threats to vessels navigating the strategic waterway.

According to maritime security sources cited by DW, a small boat approached Louise 1 and attached two limpet mines to its hull. The explosions triggered a fire in the engine room.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed that the fire had been extinguished, the crew remained safe, and no environmental damage had been reported.

The identity of those responsible for the attack had not been established at the time of reporting. The incident represents the first known successful use of limpet mines against a vessel in the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran war began in February.

Louise 1 had previously been targeted by naval drones in the Black Sea by Ukrainian forces over its alleged involvement in transporting Russian oil as part of Moscow's so-called shadow fleet.

The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical passage for international oil and gas shipments. According to the US-based Washington Institute for Near East Policy, attacks against commercial vessels in the waterway have reached their highest level since the Iran war began.

Separately, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded while navigating the strait. The organization claimed the vessels had been traveling along unauthorised routes.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi also issued a warning against further military action targeting his country, threatening an earth-shattering blow if Iran came under another attack.

The security situation has also raised economic concerns internationally. Germany has complained about soaring energy prices linked to the war, reflecting the potential economic consequences of continued disruption to commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran has offered a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. The details of the proposal were not provided in the available report.

India's government has confirmed that its sailors aboard both affected tankers survived the incidents. The circumstances surrounding the attacks and the identities of those responsible remain unresolved.