Middle East latest: Attacks on ships transiting Hormuz in October highest since start of war

The National reports that the number of vessels targeted in Strait of Hormuz, Gulf of Oman and Arabian Gulf more than double September's total[2]. According to The National, since the war started, the UKMTO has reported 145 incidents[1].The National reports that on Friday, a crude oil tanker was struck by an unknown projectile while completing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz[1]. According to the same report, Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy had claimed that four oil tankers had caught fire and exploded[1] in the strait between Friday and Saturday.Reuters, as carried by US News, quoted consultancy Marisks as saying that "October 2026 has emerged as the most intense period of maritime attacks in and around the Strait of Hormuz"[3] since hostilities escalated in March.According to Reuters, the Washington Institute's Noam Raydan said Iran is seeking to slow the recovery in shipments and maintain pressure on global energy markets ahead of November's US midterm elections[3].Reuters also reports that the IMO lists more than 30 supertankers[4] damaged during the attacks, including 11 in October alone[4].According to The National, US Central Command had said that over 95 per cent of ships have passed through the strait safely in recent months, "clearly demonstrating that the United States and regional partners control the international waterway"[1].