Saudi Arabia Shoots Down Missile as Gulf Tanker Attacks Reach Monthly Record
October marks the deadliest month for commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz since 2017, with Iran claiming two supertankers struck by mines.
By Kwame Silva ·
Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a ballistic missile and a drone fired toward its territory on 24 October, adding to a record-breaking month of maritime violence in the Gulf region.
The Saudi-led coalition announced the interception shortly before the Directorate of Civil Defence warned residents in the capital Riyadh, Najran, and Wadi al-Dawasir to take safety precautions. Minutes later, authorities declared the danger had passed in those areas.
At sea, the navy of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps reported that two supertankers hit naval mines while attempting to use an unauthorised route south of the Strait of Hormuz. The UK Maritime Trade Operations separately confirmed that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile seven nautical miles off the Omani coast.
Data from a Washington-based think tank, which has tracked global maritime security incidents since 2017, indicates that October is the worst month on record for attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and nearby waters.
Political rhetoric intensified between Washington and Tehran. US President Donald Trump stated at a rally in Florida that the United States might launch another military operation against Iran. In response, Major General Abdollahi, Iran’s armed forces chief of staff, said, “under no circumstances will we allow rusting US warships to re-enter the Persian Gulf.”
Mohammed Mokhber, an adviser to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, described the threats of war and “psychological warfare” from Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as signs of desperation rather than power. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to Moscow next week to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin and attend the Gas Exporting Countries Forum summit on 27 October.
In London, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband stated that Britain is “redoubling” its efforts to find diplomatic solutions to the conflict, noting that the situation is “driving up bills for families in Britain.” Meanwhile, in Israel, Netanyahu warned that the country should prepare for international banking sanctions and suggested cryptocurrency could help circumvent them, remarks made four days before the Knesset election.
