At least 11 ships have been attacked in the Gulf region since the start of U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, according to maritime security reporting cited by Lloyd’s List and alerts from the British Royal Navy’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, underscoring how quickly the conflict has spread into one of the world’s most important shipping corridors. Lloyd’s List has reported multiple vessel strikes, while UKMTO has logged repeated attack warnings and incident reports across the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters.

Most of the vessels appear to have been targeted at sea by aerial attacks rather than by direct naval engagement. Recent UKMTO incident notices describe ships being struck by projectiles and suffering fires, including an incident northwest of Mina Saqr in the United Arab Emirates. Lloyd’s List has also reported vessels hit off Oman and in the Strait of Hormuz, pointing to a pattern of attacks carried out from the air or by stand-off weapons.

The human cost is also rising. Lloyd’s List reported that one crew member was killed when the tanker MKD Vyom was hit off the coast of Oman, and maritime security reporting indicates that at least three crew members are now known to have died in attacks linked to the current crisis. The expanding danger to civilian seafarers has become a central concern for shipowners, insurers and governments trying to keep trade moving through the region.

According to the Joint Maritime Information Center, the threat picture now includes missiles, drones and covert sabotage. In an advisory note, JMIC raised the overall maritime risk level to critical, saying confirmed missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels had transformed the regional operating environment into an active kinetic hazard zone. At the same time, the center said there have so far been no verified reports of sea mines being used, an important distinction as ships assess what types of threats they may face.

The attacks are already reshaping commercial shipping. Lloyd’s List reports that ports in Dubai, Oman and Bahrain have faced disruptions, while many operators are avoiding or reassessing transits through the Strait of Hormuz. With attacks continuing and navigational interference also rising, maritime analysts warn that the Gulf may remain one of the most dangerous waterways in the world in the days ahead.