6 Commercial Vessels Hit in Persian Gulf Over 48 Hours; ~500 Tankers Stranded

Iran struck six commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf over March 11-12, intensifying its maritime blockade. Three more ships were struck overnight March 11-12, including a container ship off the UAE coast and a US-owned tanker near Iraq's southern ports — the first strike in Iraqi waters since the war began. Iran claimed responsibility for striking the US-owned tanker. Separately, emergency crews in Oman battled a fire at fuel storage tanks after a social media video appeared to show an Iranian drone hit. Bahrain also reported Iranian attacks targeting fuel tanks in the country's north. Tracking data showed ~500 oil tankers stranded in the Persian Gulf with only 5 departing the area in 24 hours. IRGC warned: 'Get ready for oil to be $200 a barrel.'