Six months of war: 20 dead in 68 incidents near Hormuz, IMO says
The International Maritime Organization reports 68 incidents in the Strait of Hormuz over the last six months of conflict, resulting in 20 deaths. The frequency of attacks has fluctuated based on the status of peace talks between the involved parties.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global chokepoint for energy supplies, and the ongoing instability poses a persistent threat to international maritime security and global trade.
LONDON, Aug 25, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - The Strait of Hormuz has been the main focus of the six-month war between Iran and the US and Israel, with many commercial vessels targeted in the vital conduit for oil and gas shipments.
In total, 68 incidents have been confirmed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in the Gulf and neighbouring bodies of water, the equivalent of one every 2.6 days.
Across all incidents, at least 20 seafarers or port workers were reported killed, 35 wounded and one missing, the UN maritime agency said.
About half of the incidents have involved tankers, 20 percent container ships and 15 percent bulk carriers.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) classified 47 of the incidents as attacks.
Liberia-flagged vessels have been most affected, being involved in 13 incidents, followed by 10 vessels each from Panama and the Marshall Islands.
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