24 Ships Struck in the Strait of Hormuz in Two Weeks, Highest Number Since the War Began

[Financial News] As Iran steps up attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz ahead of next month's U.S. midterm elections, the number of ships struck has risen to its highest level since the war began in February.
In a report on the 13th (local time), the UK's Financial Times (FT) cited data from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and European security officials. The FT said 24 ships had been attacked in and around the Strait of Hormuz in the two weeks through the 11th. That is the highest number in any two-week period since late February, when the United States and Israel attacked Iran. The next-highest figure was 13 ships in the first two weeks of March. Six ships were attacked on the 11th alone, also the highest daily figure since the Iran war began in February.
The FT, citing British maritime security firm Vanguard, reported that of the six ships struck on the 11th, three were tankers carrying refined petroleum products, while two others were crude-oil tankers operated by China's New Treasure Shipping and South Korea's Janggeum Maritime (Sinokor). An Indian container ship was also attacked.
According to maritime data firm Kpler, 2.9 million barrels of oil passed through the Strait of Hormuz on the 11th, the lowest figure so far this month. Kpler said the average volume transported over the past seven days was about 43% below prewar levels.
Oil shipments through the strait had recovered to prewar levels by the end of last month, but fell sharply this month. CNN analyzed that Iran had resumed attacks on tankers to regain control of the Strait of Hormuz, taking advantage of the pause in U.S. attacks.
With midterm elections set for November 3, the United States has not carried out direct airstrikes on mainland Iran since early last month. In a statement on the 8th, U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States would not attack Iran before the midterms. Iran, too, had halted attacks on commercial vessels after the 23rd of last month, but has recently resumed them.
[email protected] Park Jong-won Reporter