Iran attacks six civilian merchant ships

The attacks occurred amid the escalation of the ongoing U.S.–Israeli war with Iran, although Tehran has acknowledged responsibility only for some of the attacks on civilian vessels, claiming that the ships had ignored warnings and attempted to pass illegally through the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are described as retaliation for U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iranian naval facilities and ports, including the destruction of Iranian minelayers by the United States.

Photo: X

This is part of a broader Iranian campaign to destabilize the situation in the Middle East. Since the start of the conflict on February 28 this year, at least 16 merchant vessels have been attacked, effectively blocking traffic through the Strait of Hormuz (oil tanker traffic has dropped from 141 to 4–5 vessels per day). Oil prices have exceeded USD 100 per barrel, and shipping in the region is in chaos.

List of attacked vessels

M/R Mayuree Naree is a bulk carrier built in 2008, sailing under the Thai flag. It was hit by two missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, about 11 nautical miles north of Oman, which caused a fire in the engine room. Twenty crew members were evacuated, but three were reported missing (it is believed they may have been trapped on board). Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Iranian ambassador, and India condemned the attack.

The Commander of the Naval Forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Commodore Alireza Tangsiri, posted on social media that the vessel had been attacked because its crew ignored warnings issued by Iran and was eventually intercepted.

At the time of the attack, the ship was en route to the Indian port of Kandla. The vessel is 178.72 m long, 28.06 m wide, with a gross tonnage of 19,891 and a deadweight of 30,193 DWT. Until March 2012, it sailed under the Indian flag as Good Princes.

Thai sailors float in a lifeboat as they watch their ship burn after an Iranian USV strike in the Strait of Hormuz. pic.twitter.com/YHITmTeTpV

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 12, 2026

Footage from one of the ship’s crew, filming just moments after the Iranian USV blast tore through the vessel’s machinery space. pic.twitter.com/rUzfPtMHvq

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 12, 2026

Express Rome  is a container ship built in 2011, sailing under the Liberian flag. The vessel is 349 m long, 45.6 m wide, with a gross tonnage of 113,973 and a deadweight of 122,961 DWT. Until October 2016, it sailed under the same flag as Hanjin Italy.

The ship was en route to the Mubarras 1 port in the United Arab Emirates and was also hit by missile strikes.

Safesea Vishnu is a tanker built in 2007, sailing under the flag of the Marshall Islands. The vessel is 228.6 m long, 32.26 m wide, with a gross tonnage of 42,010 and a deadweight of 73,976 DWT. Until June 2021, it sailed under the same flag as Fair Winds, and until 2007 under the Singapore flag as Hong Ze Hu and Davinia.

The ship was attacked by explosive-laden unmanned boats in Iraqi territorial waters, about 50 km from the ports of Basra and Umm Qasr. The attack caused a fire on board, and one sailor was killed.

Zefyros is a tanker built in 2013, sailing under the flag of Malta. The vessel is 183 m long, 32.2 m wide, with a gross tonnage of 29,924 and a deadweight of 50,155 DWT. Until June 2013, it sailed under the Panamanian flag under the same name.

It was attacked simultaneously with Safesea Vishnu, as the two vessels were moored next to each other.

https://t.co/x25W1cZO9d https://t.co/aRxNorjF8W

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 11, 2026

https://t.co/dByBM4DvRn https://t.co/h2GJYritV7

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 11, 2026

Possible USV attack per Al Arabiya https://t.co/bfF02FpvkS pic.twitter.com/FNSUaNAJHX

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 11, 2026

https://t.co/jnIZy3ptNk https://t.co/BxRTJboazI

— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) March 11, 2026