Strait of Hormuz Attacks: Why Ships Are Sinking and Why It Matters

What happened this week

On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride was hit by a projectile while crossing the Strait of Hormuz. It caught fire and later sank, Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority confirmed. All 21 crew members were evacuated without injuries, gCaptain reports.

Another Singapore-registered container ship, the GFS Giselle, was struck a day later. Its hull was damaged, but the ship made it to a safe anchorage without help, and its 22 crew members were reported safe.

Then the Cape Dao, a bulk carrier registered in Antigua and Barbuda, went down on Oct. 14, three weeks after a projectile hit it on Sept. 23. One Indian crew member was killed in that original strike, according to CNN.

The pace is accelerating. The UK Maritime Trade Operations center logged nine attacks in or near the strait in the first days of this week, and at least six vessels were struck on Oct. 11 alone.

How we got here

The crisis traces back to Feb. 28, 2026, when American and Israeli forces began striking Iran. Commercial ships came under fire in and around the strait within days. Over the following months Iran seized vessels, the U.S. imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, and a ceasefire broke down in July, after which Iran closed the strait again amid new U.S. strikes, according to a running list of attacks on Wikipedia.

Since the fighting started, the International Maritime Organization has confirmed more than 100 incidents involving ships, and at least 24 seafarers have been killed.

Why this narrow waterway matters

Before the war, roughly 130 to 140 vessels a day passed through the strait, which connects the Persian Gulf to the open ocean. Traffic is now far below that. On Monday, about 4.1 million barrels of oil moved through it, less than a quarter of prewar levels, according to Kpler data cited by CNN.

Fewer barrels getting out means higher fuel prices almost everywhere. U.S. gasoline is averaging $4.33 a gallon, and energy costs drove September’s jump in inflation. The Trump administration also agreed last week to ease some Russia sanctions so it could import a small amount of Russian diesel, a move that drew criticism from both parties.

Who says what

• Iran: State outlet Press TV said the GFS Pride struck a sea mine while using an unauthorized route. Experts who spoke to CNN said a drone strike was more likely.
• Iranian officials, to Reuters: Two senior officials said Iran is using new tactics against ships to keep oil prices high and sway the U.S. midterm elections, Reuters reports.
• United States: U.S. Central Command said American forces and regional partners control the strait. It also said U.S. forces helped Gulf partners move upward of 19 million barrels of crude oil out of the Gulf on Oct. 12. The U.S. Navy also escorts nighttime crossings by tankers running with their transponders off.
• Singapore: Its maritime authority condemned the strikes as unprovoked and a violation of international law.

What to watch next

• Whether the U.S. Navy changes its approach after the sinkings.
• Daily shipping and oil-flow numbers through the strait.
• Fuel prices heading into the Nov. 3 midterms. Analysts quoted by CNN warned diesel could approach record highs by November.

Quick answers

Where is the Strait of Hormuz?

Between Iran and Oman. It links the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, and it’s only about 21 miles wide at its narrowest point.

Is the Strait of Hormuz closed?

Not entirely. Ships are still crossing, many with U.S. escorts, but traffic and oil flows are far below normal.

Why does this affect gas prices in the U.S.?

Oil trades on a global market. When exports from the Gulf are disrupted, crude and refined fuel prices rise worldwide, including at American pumps.