Iranian speedboats attached limpet mines to the hull of the Dubai-owned Louise 1 tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first such attack since 2019. The explosives detonated above the waterline, causing an engine room fire, but the vessel safely reached anchorage off Khor Fakkan, UAE. Maritime security firms and UKMTO confirmed the incident, which signals a tactical shift by Tehran amid escalating tensions with the US and Israel.
Limpet mines were last used in the Gulf of Oman in June 2019 against Japanese and Norwegian ships, and in May 2019 off Fujairah. The renewed tactic is part of an intensified campaign to disrupt oil exports, which have dropped 8.7mn barrels a day—51% below pre-war levels. Security experts warn that shipowners may now avoid the strait entirely, especially as the US midterm elections approach and Trump threatens fresh strikes.
Iran has also escalated attacks using cruise missiles and drones targeting ship funnels to maximize damage.
Source: Financial Times Companies · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing