The oil tanker VYOM was attacked by an unmanned surface vessel (USV) in the Gulf of Oman on 1/3, marking the first time an Iranian USV has successfully struck a vessel at sea after years of development. The incident, which resulted in the death of one crew member in the engine room, also caused a fire on board the vessel. Iran and the Houthi armed group in Yemen are regarded as early adopters of USVs and unmanned underwater vehicles.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the attack on 2/3, stating that the crew had evacuated ashore. Authorities are investigating the incident, and vessels in the area are advised to proceed with caution and report any suspicious activity. V.Ships Asia, the owning company, also confirmed an explosion and fire "after an object suspected to be a projectile" struck the VYOM off the coast of Muscat, Oman.

The attack on the VYOM is one of at least four cargo ships targeted since Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC declared this measure in retaliation for recent airstrikes by US and Israeli forces, further warning that it would "burn" any vessels attempting to transit the vital waterway.

In a separate incident on 2/3, the US-flagged oil tanker Stena Imperative was hit by at least two suspected Iranian objects while anchored in Bahrain. It remains unclear whether these were missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The attack caused a fire on board, which was subsequently extinguished, and the Stena Imperative remains in port.

Area where the VYOM was attacked on 1/3. *Graphic: UKMTO*

The recent surge in maritime hostilities follows a US and Israeli airstrike campaign launched on 28/2 against Iran. These strikes targeted Iranian defense and intelligence facilities, along with numerous high-ranking officials and generals. Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and several US bases across the Middle East. The ongoing conflict has resulted in nearly 600 deaths and hundreds injured throughout the region, with Iran suffering the greatest losses at 555 fatalities.

Nguyen Tien (Source: War Zone, AFP, AP)