Iran Attacks 10 Ships Near Strait of Hormuz Following US Downing of Five Tankers: How Will This Impact Global Oil Markets?
-
The Arab Post
- . September 9, 2026
- . Update: September 9, 2026 6:52 pm
Iran has launched attacks on 10 ships in proximity to the Strait of Hormuz and fired missiles at US troops in Jordan following a six-month-old US-Israel war on Iran.
Iran strikes 10 ships, This move comes just hours after the US government said that it had downed five Iranian oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman and Iran’s Kharg Island. Washington had said that the move came in response to an attempted attack on a US warship in the form of two missile attacks from Iran.
The IRGC has said that its forces have hit 10 vessels and targeted US military installations. The destruction claims made by the Iranians against US ships are yet to be independently verified, and according to US officials, the warship dodged the Iranian attack.
Why Is Iran Attacking Ships in the Vicinity of the Strait of Hormuz?
The recent attacks are just another addition to an increasingly growing rift regarding the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most vital energy corridors globally.
Iran has issued warnings to vessels sailing around the corridor in light of the sanctions imposed by Washington on Iran’s ports. Shipment movements have already been greatly reduced. According to preliminary data by Kpler, only six ships carrying cargo sailed through the corridor on Tuesday compared to the daily 10-day average of 12 vessels. Prior to the war, about 125 cargo ships moved daily along the corridor, accounting for about 1/5th of global crude oil and LNG shipments.
The IRGC has also advised tankers working in the vicinity of Bahrain and Kuwait to leave, and has declared a restricted maritime zone covering Chabahar up to parts of the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea.
U.S. Reports Destruction of Five Iranian Crude Carriers
According to the U.S. Central Command, its troops destroyed five Iranian crude carriers on September 8.
The ships include M/T Kaviz, M/T Charminar, M/T Horizon 1, and M/T Riesco in the Gulf of Oman, along with M/T Derya off Kharg Island. Crews were instructed to leave the ships before their destruction by CENTCOM.
The carriers were part of the Iranian secret fleet that funds the IRGC and its allies in the region.
These incidents came after attempts at Iranian ballistic missile attacks on a U.S. Navy vessel. CENTCOM confirmed that the vessel successfully evaded the attacks and that there was no harm done to any U.S. personnel.
Iran Strikes at U.S. Forces in Jordan
Iran also used ballistic missiles to attack a U.S. base located in Al Azraq, Jordan.
According to the Jordanian Armed Forces, its air defenses were able to shoot down 20 out of the 20 missiles, with the other two hitting an uninhabited area.
The IRGC announced that it caused damage to the facilities used for launching the US fighter jets, but there were no reports to support this claim.
Iran stated that it was able to target two US Navy ships, but the US did not confirm any damage at the time of reporting.
Oil Prices Top $100 Due to Increased Shipping Risk – Iran strikes 10 ships
The recent round of attacks is causing concern regarding the security of global energy supplies.
Brent crude has topped the $100 mark per barrel on Wednesday following the recent attacks and disruptions caused in the region around the Strait of Hormuz.
The strait plays a vital role due to the large amount of oil and liquefied natural gas flowing through it, and any disruptions in the region will result in increased shipping and energy prices around the globe.
For African countries that rely on imports for their energy needs, this development can cause an extra burden on their energy and transport bills.
Discover more Insights
Explore Iran War Lessons Globally?
Explore how the 2026 Iran war reshapes global power and strategy.
Discover Iran Delay Strategy Tactics?
Discover how Iran uses delay, repression, and proxy influence.
Check Trump Iran Strategy Importance?
Check why Trump’s Iran strategy depends on Gulf allies.
Explore Iran Military Warning Signals?
Explore rising warnings from Iran alarming global powers.
Discover Sudan Iran Axis Threat?
Discover how the Sudan-Iran axis raises serious regional concerns.
