The key facts

  • One sailor died after an explosion aboard the tanker MT Velos Sapphire; the ship was taken in by the port of Bahrain
  • According to UKMTO, October set a record for attacks in the Strait of Hormuz — more than 35 incidents
  • Iranian media report an American MQ-1 drone shot down over Qeshm Island; the US did not confirm the incident

Sailor killed and tanker attacked

An explosion, which the management company links to a missile attack, occurred on an oil tanker in the Persian Gulf; one crew member was killed. The Greek management firm Velos Tankers reportedthat the tanker MT Velos Sapphire, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was en route to Bahrain when it came under attack. The sailor, who had been listed as missing after the explosion, was found on board with fatal injuries, the company said in a statement. The explosion caused a fire on the vessel, which the crew extinguished without any other casualties. The tanker eventually docked at the Khalifa bin Salman port in Bahrain, where an investigation will begin to assess hull damage.

Record number of attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

According to Deutsche Welle, the incident is the latest in a series of attacks on ships in the Persian Gulf, which the outlet links to Iran. The Wall Street Journal, citing regional officials, security companies and analysts, described how Tehran, in its view, is using 'everything it can' to halt the flow of oil from the Strait of Hormuz: underwater drones carrying explosive charges, grenade launcher fire, and teams attaching limpet mines to vessels. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations centre (UKMTO), October saw the highest monthly number of attacks in the strait since the war began — more than 35 incidents; in November at least five ships were attacked. The rise in attacks coincided with signs of shipping through the strait recovering: according to US Central Command, since the summer it has helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil through Hormuz.

Fires on ships and a downed drone

On Thursday, Iranian media reported that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after hitting mines in the Strait of Hormuz; on Friday, the IRGC, according to state media, said two more tankers were burning in the strait. Also on Friday, Iranian media reported that Iranian air defenses had destroyed an American MQ-1 drone over Qeshm Island; the US did not confirm the incident. All of this comes after US strikes on Qeshm Island on Tuesday, when Iranian state media reported five explosions in a row.

Statements from Tehran and the US elections

A statement attributed to Iran's supreme leader Mohtaba Khamenei warned that the war in the Middle East would widen if the US resumed its attacks. According to Deutsche Welle, Khamenei rejected the suggestionthat Washington would change course after the midterm elections, which dealt a blow to President Donald Trump. A separate analysis by the outlet raised the question of whether the election results would spare the Gulf countries from a further war — that is, the link between the vote and the escalation remains a matter of debate rather than an established fact.