Attacks on commercial vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz reached their highest monthly level in the Iran-US war in October, with more than 30 incidents reported, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The data collected by the British navy-affiliated agency contrasts with US repeated announcements that the strategic waterway is widely open for navigation and has been secured by its forces.
According to UKMTO, the number of reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf was more than double September's total, surpassing even March, the first full month of the conflict, when 30 attacks were recorded.
Since the war started, the UKMTO has reported 145 incidents. The actual number of attacks could be higher, as the agency only includes incidents reported by verified vessels operating in the region.
On Friday, a crude oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while completing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz. UKMTO said it had received a report of the incident and that authorities were investigating, advising vessels to transit the strait with caution.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy had claimed that four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded in the Strait of Hormuz between Friday and Saturday.
The attacks come after the US Central Command said that in recent months, over 95 per cent of ships navigating the Strait of Hormuz have sailed through safely, "clearly demonstrating that the United States and regional partners control the international waterway".
Centcom's commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, visited the region earlier this week, where over 10,000 US forces are enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian ports and oil terminals. "When I flew over the strait, I saw dozens of commercial vessels transiting all types: cargo, crude oil, liquid natural gas, or LNG. And I also saw our U.S. assets in the air and on the water," he said in a video published on Friday.
"Here's what I didn't see. I didn't see the IRGC out there, at all," he added.
His visit came amid reports of preparations for renewed war between the US, Israel and Iran. According to Israeli media, Israel's defence establishment is preparing for the possibility of another round of conflict, both offensively and defensively, although US President Donald Trump has yet to make a decision on launching a new military campaign.
The preparations match a significant US military build-up in the region, including 12 destroyers, two aircraft carriers and increased military air traffic.
Israeli security officials stressed that the developments remain preliminary and are intended, at least in part, to provide Mr Trump with military options should he decide to act. However, Israel is updating its lists of potential targets in Iran and preparing for possible Iranian retaliation in the event of a US attack.
