Conflict & Security
Gulf tanker struck off Iraq as Iran claims 20 ship attacks
A Panama-flagged fuel oil tanker was struck in Iraqi territorial waters on Wednesday, causing hull damage, Iraq's transport ministry said, as maritime monitors reported a series of vessels coming under fire in the wider Gulf region.
The ministry said the tanker was hit by an unknown source at 5:30 a.m. local time, 28 nautical miles southeast of the Iraqi port city of Al-Faw. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said it had received a report of a tanker being struck in the same area.
Earlier, UKMTO said several merchant vessels in the Northern Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman were “subject to disabling fire as part of ongoing military activity in the region”. It also said the master of a tanker reported seeing a vessel listing at anchor 24 nautical miles northwest of Port Rashid in the United Arab Emirates, possibly because of water ingress after an attack by an unknown projectile.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they attacked two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 “non-compliant vessels” trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian state media reported.
The reported incidents came amid ongoing exchanges of strikes between the United States and Iran. Tehran has also threatened to attack oil tankers off Kuwait and Bahrain.
Update
Iraq's transport ministry said a Panama-flagged fuel oil tanker was struck by an unknown source in Iraqi territorial waters at 5:30 a.m. local time.
The ministry said the strike caused material damage to the vessel's hull.
UKMTO said it received a report of a tanker being struck 28 nautical miles southeast of Al-Faw in Iraq.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 14:23:39 UTC.
Update
UKMTO said several merchant vessels in the Northern Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman were subject to disabling fire.
UKMTO reported a vessel 24 nautical miles northwest of Port Rashid in the UAE was listing, possibly because of water ingress after an unknown projectile attack.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the 20 targeted ships included two US vessels, eight oil tankers and 10 non-compliant vessels, according to state media.
The attacks followed US strikes on Iranian vessels, and Tehran had threatened to attack oil tankers off Kuwait and Bahrain.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 10:01:23 UTC.
Update
Iran said it had attacked 20 ships trying to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
UKMTO said reports indicated the vessels were subject to disabling fire as part of ongoing military activity in the region.
Source note: AFP news report published on 9 September 2026 at 09:36:28 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The source of the strike on the Panama-flagged tanker was not identified.
The cause of the vessel listing northwest of Port Rashid was described by UKMTO as possible, not confirmed.
Source
AFP news report published on .