At least 12 vessels were attacked in the strait of Hormuz in the last week but many attacks are not being reported, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre.
UKMTO, a British Royal Navy-run organization that acts as liaison between military and commercial shipping organizations, said it is struggling to accurately report the true number of attacks in the region since most vessels refuse to report to it.
"UKMTO is aware via other sources of incidents but constrained on reporting through lack of verification," the group said today in a weekly update posted at 12:00 GMT.
Between 9-13 October, 12 incidents were reported by UKMTO, 10 in the strait of Hormuz, one in the Gulf of Oman and one in the Mideast Gulf. Of the 12 incidents, six vessels continued or reach port, three have damage or unconfirmed outcome, two were disabled or not under command and one was lost.
Attacks continue to be concentrated around the southern lane which is the lane where US-assisted transits have been taking place.
The US Central Command (Centcom), which oversees US forces in the Middle East, continues to claim control of the strait of Hormuz despite the high number of attacks against commercial vessels in the waterway.
"The IRGC has continued to falsely claim control of the Strait of Hormuz," Centcom said on Thursday, referring to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. "The United States and regional partners control the strait as commercial vessels continue to transit despite unwarranted Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps aggression."
