Todays updates from the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and the ports and anchorages across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman...........plus the US and Iran trading blows......again, Kuwait on the defensive......again and an insight from Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince
There have been some exchanging of blows during the weekend and overnight tween the US and Iran, the US have claimed to attacked and destroyed drone launch and control centers on Goruk and Qeshm Islands. This has been largely confirmed by Iranian sources.
The US said on Sunday it conducted 'self-defence strikes' on Iranian radar and drone control sites in Iran's Goruk and Qeshm Island at the weekend in what it said was a response to 'aggressive' actions from Tehran.
The US Central Command said in a post on X that Iran had shot down a US MQ-1 drone that was operating over international waters.
More on this :
US says it struck Iranian drone command sites at the weekend (Khaleej Times - June 1, 2026)
Iran has been striking out at Kuwait over the weekend and those attacks are ongoing. Kuwaiti officials have been instructing citizens since the middle of last week to take whatever steps are necessary to remain safe as drone attacks are being defended against. So far casualties in Kuwait have been light as all incoming drones have been shot down
Kuwaiti air defences intercepted hostile missile and drone attacks early on Monday, the military reported.
"The General Staff of the Army wishes to advise that any sounds of explosions heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting these hostile attacks," the Kuwait Army said in a post on its official X account.
More on this :
Kuwait army says air defences intercept missile, drone attacks (Khaleej Times - June 1, 2026)
Saudi Arabia has, just like its neighbours, suffered significant attacks as a result of what the entire region is calling the "40 Day War" tween the US and Iran, a war that still continues despite a ceasefire being in place. The region has tolerated the Iranian behaviour since 1979, the Gulf States have become resiliant, mindful and have done what has needed to be done to maintain their defensive status, often through being Allied with each other and with several countries worldwide. At the heart of this is Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman....
The war that came to be known as the “40-Day War” between the United States and Iran, which began on February 28, 2026, and continues to this day, has posed a profound test for the Gulf Arab states, of which geography has compelled to bear the consequences of Iran’s policies since the 1979 revolution. This challenge has been particularly severe for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which firmly rejects foreign interference, the so-called “export of the Islamic Revolution,” hegemonic ambitions, the destabilization of nations, and the terrorism, sabotage, and loss of innocent lives that stem from such actions.
At the center of this crisis, Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman remained steadfast in his commitment to wisdom, adopting a strategy of calculated patience to safeguard the security of citizens and expatriates alike. A careful assessment of the current regional turmoil demonstrates that, despite immense risks, Prince Mohammed bin Salman skillfully and calmly steered the ship, sparing the country and its people from indiscriminate ballistic missile strikes and drone attacks.
The above quote is taken from an opinion article, it is a very good read and gives a real insight into the struggles that Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf States have to deal with when it comes to their troublesome neighbour, Iran
More here :
Mohammed bin Salman and the diplomacy of balance to extinguish the flames of conflict (Saudi Gazette - May 21, 2026)
Onto the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab-el-Mandab Strait
There is some very strange behaviour going on in the Strait of Hormuz this morning.......yesterday I highlighted the US flagged fishing boat Jersey Devil.....it is still there. Nearby we now have another ship, also US flagged, the ColinM Sys (name is not recognised by Equasis or any other shipping database). The "ColinM Sys" is - according to its AIS tag "giving orders" so could it be USN in disguise? There are several ships that are stopped in the middle of the strait, including a Chinese bulker, KLS MingYang, that is very close to the two US flagged vessels....
On the Strait of Hormuz image below.....KSL MingYang is highlighted, the two US vessels are purple spot to the left is "ColinM Sys" and green spot below is "Jersey Devil". At time of writing no incidents reported
The Bab-el-Mandab Strait is flowing well this morning. No incidents reported.
There is very little change from Umm Qasr to Doha, apart from some steady movement on containerships (big green arrows) in international waters off the coast of Iran
There is heavy traffic both on the move and at anchor on the anchorages from Mina Saqr, Das Island and Jebel Ali. Das Island image below showing one of the many Iranian herders in the area
On the Gulf of Oman side of the Strait of Hormuz, ports and anchorages from Dibba through Liwa are busy....the image includes one of the Iranian LCT herders
Further south Muscat is once again very busy...and with one of the many Iranian herders in the vicinity
CMA CGM San Antonio is still unaccounted for along with the remaining crew who were injured during the ill fated Project Freedom. Hopefully they will be home very soon and that the joint IMO and UN humanitarian corridor (I posted above in the thread) will soon happen, the corridor would be organised and monitored by neutral forces and organisations unlike Project Freedom that was organised by one of the combatants in the conflict.
That is all for now....more updates in the morning.