Ships under fire in Red Sea and Strait of Hormuz

An unmanned cargo vessel was struck by multiple unknown projectiles in the Red Sea, and a crewed ship suffered damage and a casualty while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, in a series of maritime security incidents on August 18, 2026 that underscored the persistent threats to commercial shipping across key global waterways. The attacks highlighted the complex and dangerous environment facing vessels in the region, from the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz to the Black Sea.

In the Strait of Hormuz, a ship was hit by an unidentified projectile as it sailed outbound through Omani waters. According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, the strike damaged the vessel's engine room and resulted in one crew casualty. The Omani Coast Guard was assisting the remaining crew members. While no claim of responsibility was immediately made, the incident occurred as Iran continued to restrict shipping through the vital passage, which had seen daily traffic plummet from over 130 ships before the February 2026 U.S.-Israeli attack on Iran to an average of about 12 vessels per day. The ship was identified in one report as the MINOAN DIGNITY. Since the conflict began, at least 17 sailors have...