Limpet Mines Disable Tanker in First Such Hormuz Attack of War
On Thursday a small boat attached explosives to the hull of the Panama-flagged tanker Louise 1, about 25 nautical miles north-east of Khasab in Oman. The blast started a fire that was later put out. Maritime security sources told Reuters it was the first known successful limpet-mine attack on a tanker in the area since the war began. Separately, the IRGC claimed that three tankers had struck sea mines on a southern route it calls unauthorised.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre said the crew were safe and the ship had continued to its next port. According to the sources, a similar attempt in September failed when the devices did not go off. The Greece-based risk firm Marisks said: “The apparent ability of a small craft to approach a transiting tanker, deploy explosive devices and withdraw presents a significant security concern.” Iran insists that ships use northern routes it has approved, while Washington promotes the southern lane. Tasnim, a news agency close to the IRGC, said Tehran had not yet answered JD Vance’s letter and would not drop its core conditions, including an end to the US blockade of its ports.