Several oil tankers navigating near the Strait of Hormuz were targeted by Iranian forces overnight from Wednesday to Thursday, intensifying tensions in the region and raising concerns about global energy supply.
According to reports, two tankers were attacked off the coast of Iraq, leaving one person dead, while Iranian forces also set fire to a Thai cargo ship. Iranian drones reportedly targeted Dubai airport during the same wave of attacks.
Since the beginning of the conflict, around twenty vessels have been attacked in the region, according to officials. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned they would “burn alive anyone attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz,” threatening further escalation.
The group also declared that if attacks against Iran continue, they would prevent any oil shipments from the Middle East to the United States, Israel and their allies.
The situation is particularly alarming because the Strait of Hormuz normally handles around 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments. The near paralysis of this key maritime corridor has already triggered sharp fluctuations in global oil prices.
In response, the International Energy Agency (IEA) announced on Wednesday the release of 400 million barrels of oil from the emergency reserves of its 32 member countries, in an effort to stabilize markets and mitigate supply disruptions.
Source: Africanews
