Iran Strikes Ships in Strait of Hormuz — Three Crew Members Still Missing

March 12, 2026 | America News World | World Desk

The already volatile Middle East conflict took a dangerous new turn on Wednesday when Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) launched projectile attacks on at least four commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

The strikes have sent shockwaves across the globe, raising fresh alarms about the safety of international trade routes and the lives of thousands of innocent sailors.

Among the ships targeted was the Mayuree Naree, a Thai bulk cargo vessel bound for Kandla port in Gujarat, India. The ship was carrying 23 crew members when it was struck and set ablaze. In a desperate scramble for survival, 20 sailors were rescued by the Omani Navy, but three remain unaccounted for as search operations continue. Their fate hangs in an agonizing uncertainty.

The Indian government wasted no time in condemning the attack. In a strongly worded statement, New Delhi called out the dangerous pattern of commercial ships being dragged into a military conflict they have no part in.

“Precious lives, including of Indian citizens, have already been lost in multiple such attacks,” the government said, adding that the “intensity and lethality of the attacks only seems to be increasing.” India further stressed that freedom of navigation and the safety of civilian crew must be respected — unconditionally.

But the damage did not stop at one ship. A second vessel — the **Express Rome**, flying a Liberian flag — was also struck by Iranian projectiles. Iran’s IRGC claimed both ships had “ignored warnings” from its naval forces.

Additionally, the Japan-flagged **One Majesty** sustained minor damage from a separate strike roughly 25 nautical miles northwest of Ras Al Khaimah, while the Marshall Islands-flagged **Star Gwyneth** suffered hull damage 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai.

The IRGC has now issued a chilling open warning: **any ship passing through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted.** The threat has sent international shipping companies scrambling for alternate routes and has prompted several multinational firms — including those with offices in Dubai — to begin evacuating employees.

are stranded in the Persian Gulf, according to Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Indian authorities say dedicated 24-hour control rooms are operational and are actively coordinating with embassies, ship managers, and local authorities to ensure the safety of all personnel.

With the conflict now entering its **12th day**, the IRGC has also vowed to target what it calls “economic centres and banks” linked to American and Israeli interests — a threat that has rattled global financial markets and businesses operating in the Gulf region.

The world watches anxiously as diplomats scramble and military assets are repositioned. For now, three sailors somewhere in the burning waters of the Hormuz remain missing — a human reminder of just how real and devastating this war has become.

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