A new dangerous development is recorded in the broader region of Oman, as the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that it received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman, without further details on what exactly occurred being made known so far.
At the same time, the picture around the Strait of Hormuz becomes increasingly alarming, as available data shows a dramatic contraction in shipping traffic, with barely 6 ships recorded in a single day, compared to approximately 130-140 ships that typically transited prior to the start of the war.
The development acquires even greater significance as Iran indicates that the operation of Hormuz is no longer merely a matter of freedom of navigation, but is directly linked to its demands toward Washington. A spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made clear that the reopening of the strategic Strait is conditional upon the «full acceptance of our terms» by the USA, creating an explosive scene in one of the planet's most critical energy arteries.
The «hot incident»
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced today, Tuesday (11/8/2026), that it received a report of an incident involving a tanker and military forces in the Gulf of Oman. «Vessels are advised to consider the latest maritime security information and maintain an increased awareness of the changing operational environment», the UKMTO stated in a social media post.
«Relevant authorities are aware of the incident and related investigations are ongoing».
Attack on Saudi Arabian ships
Meanwhile, according to Iranian news agencies, two commercial ships belonging to Saudi Arabia were attacked today, Tuesday, with missiles in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
This marks the first time that two ships have come under attack in the Red Sea with a difference of barely two hours between them.
Today's maritime incidents occurred while the Yemeni Armed Forces have engaged for three weeks in a naval blockade of Saudi ships and have emphasized that all Saudi vessels, from the southern to the northern section of the Red Sea, constitute targets.
Previously, 8 Saudi-owned oil tankers had come under attack, while 29 ships altered course.
It is highlighted that oil exports of Saudi Arabia have also dropped by 74% this month compared to the pre-war period.
According to reports, today's first cruise missile strike on a Saudi ship in Bab al-Mandab caused at least three deaths, among them two Pakistani citizens and one Indonesian citizen. However, the exact identity of the two ships, as well as the flags under which they are registered, have not yet been announced.
Yahya Saree, spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, emphasized: «The equation "blockade for blockade" will continue until the liberation of Yemen from the bonds of occupation and the Saudi blockade».
Iran «tightens» the vice in Hormuz
At the same time, shocking maritime traffic data shows that vessel transit through the Strait of Hormuz fell yesterday, Monday, to just 6 ships, whereas the 10-day average was approximately 11 ships.
This decrease occurs as hopes for reaching an agreement between the USA and Iran fade, while data indicates that even this limited flow is conducted via the Iranian side.
Today's data for Tuesday, published by the platform Kpler, shows that 4 ships carrying essential commodities entered the waterway, including two empty oil tankers intended for transporting oil products.
Concurrently, figures show the exit of two ships from the Strait, including a small vessel carrying liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and another vessel carrying residual fuel. This occurs while, in the days prior to the start of the war, typically 130 to 140 ships transited the specific Strait.
The spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) also emphasized that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz «is conditional upon the full acceptance of our terms by Washington».
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