Shipping containers, iPhones and other goods have been spotted floating in the Strait of Hormuz following a fresh wave of attacks by Iran on commercial vessels in the strategic waterway.
Footage published by Al Jazeera on Thursday, October 15, 2026, showed debris scattered across the sea, highlighting the damage caused by the escalating attacks on commercial shipping.
One of the vessels targeted, the Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride, sank after sustaining damage and catching fire.
Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority confirmed that all 21 crew members aboard the vessel were safely evacuated, with no injuries reported.
The attacks come amid Iran’s intensifying campaign against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor, in what analysts believe could be an attempt to inflict economic damage on the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Experts who spoke to Iran International said the surge in attacks could be aimed at exploiting Washington’s restraint ahead of the US midterm elections while undermining efforts to restore oil shipments through the Persian Gulf.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), 12 vessels came under attack between October 5 and 11, with six incidents recorded on Sunday alone.
On Tuesday, a tanker and a container ship were also struck by unknown projectiles, marking one of the most intense periods of attacks on commercial shipping since the war began.
