Iranian forces bombard tugboat attempting to assist vessel hit in the Strait of Hormuz; incident raises risks to commercial shipping
Iranian forces attacked and bombarded a tugboat that was approaching to provide assistance to a vessel previously hit by Iranian fire in the Strait of Hormuz. The incident, reported amid maritime security alerts, resulted in deaths among the tugboat's crew and intensified the chaos on the critical route for global oil trade, with multiple ships already abandoned or damaged in the region.
- Iranian forces bombed a tugboat that was heading to assist a commercial vessel previously hit by Iranian projectiles in the Strait of Hormuz, in yet another episode demonstrating the escalation of threats to civilian navigation in the most important waterway for the global oil supply. According to reports from maritime security agencies, including the UK According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) and private naval intelligence firms, the UAE-registered tugboat (identified as Mussafah 2) was hit by two missiles while attempting to assist the Maltese-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige, which had been abandoned by its crew after being hit above the waterline in the stern, causing a fire in the engine room.
- The tugboat incident occurred approximately 18 nautical miles from Khasab, Oman, and about 6 nautical miles north of Omani waters in the strait. Security sources confirm that the entire crew of the tugboat – estimated at around eight members – was killed in the attack. The UKMTO received third-party reports of the bombardment by unknown projectiles and stated that authorities are investigating. The pattern suggests the use of missiles or drones launched by Iranian forces or proxies, in line with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) earlier statement that the Strait of Hormuz is "closed" and that any vessel attempting to transit or operate in the area would be set on fire.
- The Safeen Prestige has remained adrift since March 4, following the initial attack that forced the safe evacuation of the crew. The tugboat Mussafah 2 was one of the few assistance vessels willing to approach the high-risk zone, amid hundreds of ships – including tankers and cargo ships – anchored or diverted to avoid the strait due to persistent threats. The incident follows multiple Iranian attacks on commercial vessels, including tankers hit by explosive drones (kamikaze boats) and projectiles, resulting in fires, abandonments, and at least one confirmed sailor death in another case. The IRGC has claimed responsibility for actions against vessels it considers "in collusion with the United States" or violating the alleged unilateral blockade announced last week. With more than 200 ships detained or anchored around the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, war risk insurance rates have skyrocketed, and major shipping operators have suspended transits.
- The bombing of the rescue tug reinforces the perception that humanitarian or rescue operations are also under threat, exacerbating the potential for environmental disasters and prolonged disruptions to the global energy flow. Omani, UAE, and international authorities are monitoring the situation closely, but there is no confirmed direct military response against the Iranian forces responsible for the attack on the tug. The episode further raises fears of a large-scale maritime crisis at the heart of the world's hydrocarbon trade.
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