Iran has adopted new tactics for targeting vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, using unarmed observers on small boats for identification.
Iran has begun to implement new methods in its attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Two senior Iranian officials speaking to Reuters reported that the Tehran administration changed the type and frequency of the attacks approximately 10 days ago. An American military official stated that following losses in Iran's radar capabilities, the country has started to identify targets through observers on small boats.
Small boats are used for target identification.
According to a Reuters report dated October 14, after the U.S. destroyed a significant portion of Iran's radar systems, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards began to utilize unarmed observers on small boats.
The U.S. military official, who wished to remain anonymous, noted that these observers were gathering information not only about commercial vessels but also about American warships.
The official reported that last week, Iranian observers on a traditional wooden boat were identified as relaying target information to the Revolutionary Guards.
It was reported that during the intervention of U.S. forces, those on the boat were evacuated, after which the boat was destroyed, and there were no casualties in the incident.
At least five attacks and incidents in the last 48 hours.
According to data based on maritime security sources and records from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), at least five attacks or security incidents involving tankers and other commercial vessels have been recorded in the vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz in the last 48 hours.
These incidents, which included attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles, revealed that threats to commercial maritime transportation in the region have increased again.
According to data from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the frequency of attacks has approached the intensity seen during the period of October 3-5.
Attack area expanding to the Gulf of Oman.
Iranian officials speaking to Reuters indicated that the new application would not be limited to the Strait of Hormuz, but would also encompass maritime areas around the Gulf of Oman.
In assessments based on UKMTO notifications, maritime security organizations noted that ships off the coasts of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates have also been targeted in recent days.
One Iranian official stated that vessels deemed to be violating transit restrictions set by Tehran could also be targeted outside the strait.
Iranian officials pointed to oil prices.
Two senior Iranian officials speaking to Reuters suggested that the new attack methods also aim to prevent a decline in global oil prices ahead of the midterm elections in the U.S. scheduled for November.
One of the officials stated that the decision was made at the highest levels of the Iranian administration and that coordination was established among the relevant institutions.
Iranian officials expressed that measures against vessels violating the transit restrictions set by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz would be further increased.
Serious level of security threat in Hormuz.
In its latest assessment published on Sunday, the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), led by the U.S. Navy, announced that the threat to commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz is at the second-highest level, categorized as 'serious.'
The center reported that attacks and harassment activities linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guards continue; unmanned aerial vehicle flights, targeted monitoring of commercial vessels, and reports of VHF radio calls have been documented.
Following the attacks by the U.S. and Israel on February 28, the transit of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz has significantly decreased.
In the strait, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas trade passes before the war, rising freight and insurance costs due to the threat of attacks continue to impact maritime transportation.
At the time of publication, neither the Pentagon nor the Iranian Foreign Ministry provided comments on the matter.
Source: SeaNews Türkiye
