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Todays updates on the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and all ports / anchorages in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman..........including an explosion aboard a VLCC off Muscat and a release of detained seafarers
The Greek owned VLCC, Olympic Life, experienced an explosion whilst off Muscat yesterday (May 26, 2026). There has been significant damage done to the ship, the explosion is said to have been on the waterline and bunker fuel has leaked into the sea. All crew are confirmed to be safe and unharmed. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....df8225a629.png https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....625f22d57d.png The vessel is owned by Athens-based Olympic Shipping Management, the successor to Olympic Management founded by late shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, according to the Onassis Foundation's website. Reports coming from the UAE have confirmed that 10 seafarers have been released by Iran after being detained in July 2025. They were aboard the Harbour Phoenix, an oil products tanker after the ship had been intercepted off Jask. The Indian government had been negotiating their release which was finally granted. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9e46f0e878.png "The seafarers have now been released and reunited safely," the shipping authority said. "Necessary arrangements are being coordinated for the earliest return of the crew members to India." Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strair All relatively quiet in the Strait of Hormuz, there are some ships on the move. The Iranian herders are still hanging around so traffic is extremely light https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0e53187f06.png The Bab-el-Mandab Strait is flowing freely this morning, no reported incidents https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....95b3189129.png The Persian Gulf from Umm Qasr to Doha is very congested once again, ships are still being moved towards the Saudi and Kuwaiti coastline by Iranian herders https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....e52ae57742.png The area tween Mina Saqr and Jebel Ali has gone almost totally deserted....however, following the explosion in the Gulf of Oman aboard the VLCC, the ships are most likely to still be there but are dark on AIS. Some will have shifted across towards the Saudi coast. https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fa4e1ee74f.png Onto the Gulf of Oman....from Dibba to Muscat, all ports and anchorages are once again extremely congested, the Iranian herders are very busy getting the anchorages tightly packed. Although no explanation for the explosion aboard the VLCC yesterday has been given, the seafarers on these ships will obviously be very concerned about their safety https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....0a4662efb9.png https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a3b553032a.png Unfortunately no updates on the injured crew that remain in Omani hospitals who were hurt during the attack on CMA CGM San Antonio during Project Freedom Thats it for today...back tomorrow |
Salute!
Salute! No deal yet. Taking a guess what gets blown up first. My guess is another nuclear facility, then something involving transportation within the country, not Kharg. Hope the Starlink gear can provide coverage. Looks like Iran Rev Is Guard is warning other states about being cozy with the U.S. Guess that's part of the claim they are gonna rid the region of U.S. military, or at least give no sanctuary to U.S. military in the area. Gums sends... |
Originally Posted by gums
(Post 12092628)
Salute!
Salute! No deal yet. Taking a guess what gets blown up first. My guess is another nuclear facility, then something involving transportation within the country, not Kharg. Hope the Starlink gear can provide coverage. Looks like Iran Rev Is Guard is warning other states about being cozy with the U.S. Guess that's part of the claim they are gonna rid the region of U.S. military, or at least give no sanctuary to U.S. military in the area. Gums sends... |
Salute!
Agreed, Global. But this is not the basic kinda war/armed conflict we trained for. Secondly, patroling the area with AC-130's and Warthogs and Reapers and Apaches would work if willing to take a lotta hits from manpads and mobile eo-acq and guide/seek/home systems. Only SAM kill I suffered in Red Flag was from an SA-8 and I was still not on the low level phase of the attack. No warning on the RHAW. A real one would have had the smoky launch and maybe my wingie would hav seen it, but whathehell. SA-2's and Firecan controlled 85's for my real experiences over Hanoi were not close enuf to talk much about. Gums sends... |
https://x.com/KuwaitArmyGHQ/status/2...948522934?s=20 Kuwaiti air defenses are currently confronting hostile missile and drone attacks. The General Staff of the Army notes that any explosion sounds heard are the result of air defense systems intercepting the hostile attacks. Everyone is requested to adhere to the security and safety instructions issued by the competent authorities. |
https://x.com/EGYOSINT/status/2059839684038058280?s=20 Iran’s IRGC now says it has struck the U.S. Air Base used to launch the attack on Bandar Abbas. The targeted base may have been Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait, which hosts U.S. Air Force assets, including drones. https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4e680899b7.png |
Reference the above claimed US attack on Bandar Abbas:
https://x.com/FoxNews/status/2059797138075254886?s=20 BREAKING: The U.S. struck an Iranian ground control station in Bandar Abbas that was about to launch an attack drone, officials tell FOX News. Four other Iranian one-way attack drones that posed a threat in the Strait of Hormuz were also shot down, the officials said. "These actions were measured, purely defensive, and intended to maintain the ceasefire." |
https://x.com/EGYOSINT/status/2059871150767796276?s=20 A U.S. Navy MQ-4C Triton drone is now flying over the Persian Gulf on a new ISR mission off Iran. After departing Muwaffaq al-Salti Air Base, the drone entered a holding pattern and made several loops before heading toward the Gulf. |
Todays updates for the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait, all ports and anchorages in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman..........plus Dutch minesweeper being prepared to sail, South Korea identifies missile parts inside HMM Namu and three ships go dark and pass through the Strait of Hormuz
Dutch minesweeper, HNLMS Vlissingen, is being prepared for deployment to the Strait of Hormuz once the peace agreement and hostilities end. The Dutch...along with many NATO and non NATO Navies...are preparing ships, equipment and personnel for any form of multinational force to ensure safe passage for all ships through the Strait of Hormuz. Currently the various Navies are looking to gather in mid June or when the situation calms down and is safe The Netherlands will send a minesweeper to the Mediterranean Sea as part of NATO operations to allow a possible rapid deployment to the Strait of Hormuz, should a mission there be agreed once the Iran war ends, ministers said on Wednesday in a letter to parliament. The minesweeper, departing this week, will be able to contribute to the NATO standing mine countermeasures group from mid-June, the letter from defence minister Dilan Yesligoz and foreign minister Tom Berendsen said. The South Koreans are said to have identified fragments of an Iranian anti ship missile within the damaged HMM Namu on May 4, 2026. The ship is currently undergoing inspection and repairs in Dubai. The Namu (38,314 dwt) was struck on May 4 while it was anchored off the UAE port of Umm Al Quwain. There were 24 crewmembers who were not injured, but there was a fire in the engine room and a hole in the hull above the waterline. The statement describes the hole as measuring approximately 16.5 feet by 23 feet and shows clear indications of an external explosion. The ship was taken to Dubai for inspection and repairs. South Korean officials said on Wednesday, May 27, that they have analyzed the pieces recovered by a team sent to Dubai to examine the ship. They found the engine from the missile, a warhead, explosives, and the airframe. The First Minister of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Park Yoon-joo, told the audience that they believe it was an anti-ship missile from the Nour series developed in Iran. Three ships have managed to sail through the Strait of Hormuz without their AIS transponders turned on. VLCC Eagle Veracruz carrying 2 million barrels of oil from Saudi Arabia is heading to China, VLCC Nissos Keros carrying 1.8 million barrels of oil from UAE to India and LNG tanker in ballast, Umm Al Ashtan, has sailed from the Persian Gulf side of UAE to the Gulf of Oman side Two supertankers and one liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker exited the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week with their transponders switched off, and are heading for India and China, shipping data from LSEG and Kpler showed. The vessels joined a number of tankers leaving the Gulf this month, although oil and LNG traffic overall has still been limited. Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strait The Strait of Hormuz is quiet this morning, at time of writitng there were no reported incidents. As the above shows, ships are making their escape in AIS darkness...a very risky move since it means more pairs of human eyes having to keep watch for other ships which can be difficult, especially at night since as well as being AIS dark, they will be turning off all external lighting apart from basic navigation lights https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1f1147f6a1.png The Bab-el-Mandab Strait is running normally, again no reported incidents as yet today https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....ef988268a3.png The Persian Gulf ports and anchorages are all congested again this morning. Kuwaiti anchorages have thinned out due to ongoing attacks at various locations including a US facility. The rest of the area from Umm Qasr to Doha / Das Island is very busy and the Iranian herders are still pushing ships into tighter spaces https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5645f4fd6e.png There is a little more visible activity in the ports and anchrages from Mina Saqr to Jebel Ali, again it does seem that much of the shipping has gone AIS dark. Not many Iranian herders around either, they too can also go AIS dark https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c05aadbdeb.png On the other side of the Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf of Oman.....the ports of Dibba, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah are busy. Their associated anchorages are very congested and with several Iranian herders in and around the ships. Further south on the Al Widyyat, Liwa and Sohar anchorages, its much the same situation. Muscat has become exceptionally busy, the port of Muscat is not very big compared to many other ports in the region https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7ad77282cc.png https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d2d1f9fdd9.png No updates as yet regarding CMA CGM San Antonio crew who were injured during the ill-fated Project Freedom. Thats it for today.....more tomorrow |
Do these Iranian 'herders' keep to international waters?
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Originally Posted by jolihokistix
(Post 12092815)
Do these Iranian 'herders' keep to international waters?
I have found a few anchored or slow cruising in territorial waters that belong to other Gulf States several times over the weeks. Many of the main anchorages are slightly outside of territorial waters but the herders are frequently tween the anchorages and the port. There is nothing that countries can do to stop it.....if they send one of their own patrol ships or a tug out to ward it off Iran will see that as a hostile action and retaliate. So it is often easier to watch them, note them and let them herd and intimidate than to spark a potential incident by telling them to go home. The ships are being herded into tight groups, if a country complains about the Iranians in their territorial waters, even through diplomatic channels, that could (and likely would) place those ships in danger. Retaliation would be towards the ships as easy prey that cannot hit back and none of the Gulf States will endanger those ships and crews by trying to get rid of the Iranian herders by force or diplomatically. |
https://x.com/BabakTaghvaee1/status/...464071937?s=20 BREAKING: Ballistic missile launchers of the IRGC Aerospace Force in Miankooh, near Omidiyeh in southwestern Iran, were targeted by the United States Air Force after launching ballistic missiles at multiple air bases used by the U.S. military in retaliation for last night’s U.S. Navy strikes at Bandar Abbas. |
News running around that there is an agreement to open the strait - whilst - there is a 60 day ceasefire...
Iran war live: US, Iran reach MoU on 60-day truce, Trump’s approval pending | US-Israel war on Iran News | Al Jazeera US and Iran reach tentative deal to extend ceasefire, US sources say |
Are they extending the cease fire so they can keep firing at each other?
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Originally Posted by gums
(Post 12092628)
Salute!
Salute! No deal yet. Taking a guess what gets blown up first. My guess is another nuclear facility, then something involving transportation within the country, not Kharg. Hope the Starlink gear can provide coverage. Looks like Iran Rev Is Guard is warning other states about being cozy with the U.S. Guess that's part of the claim they are gonna rid the region of U.S. military, or at least give no sanctuary to U.S. military in the area. Gums sends... |
Originally Posted by GlobalNav
(Post 12093368)
No deal might preferable to a deal. The parties aren’t exactly faithful to their commitments.
Originally Posted by Newsweek
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has denied Iranian state TV reports that an American aircraft was shot down near Bushehr. This denial comes amidst ongoing tensions and a reported memorandum of understanding between the U.S. and Iran aimed at de-escalation. The situation is described as a "game of chicken" with a potential for renewed conflict.
Be skeptical. |
Todays updates on the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and all ports / anchorages in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman........plus Kuwait attacked again, Iranian demands for $12 billion and airlines cutting more and more flights in the region due to ceasefire jitters
The airlines are showing their discomfort over flights to the Middle East region, there are significant jitters due to the unpredictability of the US and Iranian administrations who have chopped and changed minds many times during the ceasefire. There are real concerns that airspace could close at a moments notice due to hostilities and longhaul flights being diverted away from the usual Middle East routes. Table from Iraqi News.... https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....8d96f3c160.png Global commercial aviation corridors are undergoing a massive structural realign as international airlines rapidly cancel, suspend, or scale back operations across the Middle East. Driven by escalating regional tensions and the looming threat of a direct military confrontation between Iran and a U.S.-Israeli coalition, global carriers are rerouting transit networks entirely away from traditional regional hubs. According to live aviation tracking data and updates published by Reuters on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, mainline intercontinental flights between Europe and Asia are increasingly bypassing Middle Eastern airspace. To capture the displaced passenger traffic and adapt to the volatile geopolitical environment, major Gulf-based airlines and international long-haul carriers are aggressively adjusting their operational capacities. Fears of sudden airspace closures and missile threats to civilian aviation have prompted commercial carriers from Europe, Asia, and North America to extend flight bans across a broad list of cities, including Baghdad, Erbil, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, Riyadh, Tel Aviv, and Beirut. Kuwait has come under attack again by hostile drones. So far all have been intercepted and the Kuwati government has stated that they will defend themselves and possibly retaliate if needed. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9bc3bcf07c.png Iran are demanding $12 billion upfront before they will extend the ceasefire....this is part of $24 billion of frozen funds owed to them by the US under the now torn up Obama deal. There will be no extended ceasefire without the upfront payment. In order to open the Strait of Hormuz and obtain some degree of restriction on Iran's nuclear program, the Trump administration may have to give Tehran access to billions of dollars in frozen assets, according to The Telegraph. The Iranian demand is politically perilous for the White House since it would have the appearance of a payment to Iran, and it would conflict with administration's messaging of "total and complete victory." According to the Telegraph's sources, Iranian negotiators are demanding the release of a total of $24 billion in frozen overseas assets in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire extension (not a final settlement). Half of that money, $12 billion, would have to be released up front in order to get the memorandum signed and begin the process of further negotiations. "Our demand is the release of the frozen assets – not in the future, but right now," an Iranian official confirmed to the Telegraph. "No negotiations are possible without depositing Iran’s blocked funds." Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strait At time of writing there have been no reported incidents in the region of the two Straits. Traffic is virtually non existant out of the Strait of Hormuz but flowing well through the Bab-el-Mandab Strait https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....d12049f432.png https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....a8aafe1c51.png The Persian Gulf from Umm Qasr to Doha...little change, very very congested in all ports and anchorages with many ships treading water on their anchor chains but not moving any distances. The usual herders are still milling about tween the ships https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7775098f22.png Tween Mina Saqr and Abu Dhabi there seems to be a little more visible shipping although the main anchorages of Mina Saqr, Ras al Khaimah and Das Island remain very light. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4bc79ed207.png Over on the Gulf of Oman side from Dibba to Muscat, it looks less congested but the caveat is that many ships in the area will have gone dark on AIS. The port and anchorage of Fujairah are both very very quiet this morning. Several ships appear to be moving tween main anchorages rather than sitting still, possibly to avoid further attack such as the VLCC a couple days ago https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7349079266.png Still no news of the injured crew aboard CMA CGM San Antonio and the ship herself has yet to come back on AIS which does not bode well for her. Thats it for today....back tomorrow |
https://x.com/MFABGWatch/status/2060...621114100?s=20 PM Rumen Radev announced that Bulgaria will extend the stay of U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft at Sofia Airport only until the end of June, linking the decision to ongoing discussions with Washington over visa-free travel for Bulgarian citizens. Speaking ahead of a Council of Ministers meeting, Radev recalled that he had personally raised the issue of U.S. visa requirements during his recent conversation with President Donald Trump. 🗣️ “So far I have not received a positive response. I fully understand the complexity of the legal procedures and the need for time, but we also have our own priorities and procedures.” Radev stated that Bulgaria is therefore unable to approve a long-term extension of the tanker deployment and will instead grant a one-month extension through the end of June. 🗣️ “We cannot respond positively to the request for a long stay of the tanker aircraft at Sofia Airport.” According to the Prime Minister, the extension is intended to provide the United States sufficient time to plan its next steps and identify an alternative location if necessary. The remarks represent the clearest indication yet that the Bulgarian government is seeking to use ongoing bilateral discussions to increase pressure for progress on Bulgaria's long-standing objective of joining the U.S. Visa Waiver Program. https://www.bta.bg/en/news/bulgaria/..._source=openai |
Todays updates from the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab-el-Mandab Strait and all ports & anchorages within the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman......plus is the US ending the Iranian blockade, airfairs across the Middle east on the rise again and the opinion of a much respected Kuwaiti veteran journalist of the whole Iran problem
It seems that maybe the USN blockade might be about to be lifted. Various overnight posts and comments on social media from president Trump give rise to hopes that finally the many thousands of seafarers could start going home. However, with no actual deal ratified by president Trump to bring about peace in the region, it may...as so often the case...be nothing more than bluster... Listing out his conditions for the ceasefire agreement on social media on Friday, Donald Trump said the U.S. would lift its naval blockade. He did not give a timeline, but said ships caught in the region may start the process of “heading home.”Roughly a quarter of the large oil tankers trapped inside the Persian Gulf at the outbreak of the Iran war have managed to slip out, reports Bloomberg. Based on AIS signals and other data, it believes 29 of the 109 supertankers stuck in the Persian Gulf have either slipped out or gained permission from the Iranians for the transit. However, traffic through the Strait has continued at a trickle, with even fewer vessels willing to chance a return trip back into the Persian Gulf due to the fears they could become caught. On Friday, the International Energy Agency, International Monetary Fund, World Bank Group, and World Trade Organization issued a statement warning of the lasting impact. In addition to a rapid drawdown of the world’s oil reserves, they warned that the continued disruption was having broad impacts on food and other critical supply chains. ......... “Ships caught in the Strait due to our amazing and unprecedented naval blockade, which will now be lifted, may start the process of ‘heading home!’ Say HELLO to your wives, husbands, parents, and families…” wrote Trump. Despite signs of recovery within the Middle Eastern airlines, the cost of jet fuel has risen a stated 121% thus airfares have increased causing an extreme drop in pax numbers. This is making recovery much tougher for ME based airlines across all Gulf States. The UAE has, as of May 2, 2026, lifted all restrictions that had been in place due to the ongoing hostilities. The biggest threat to your summer travel budget is the skyrocketing cost of operating an aircraft. The disruption to global trade and oil supplies has sent jet fuel prices surging by an eye-watering 121.1 per cent year-on-year in April, alongside a 77.7 per cent increase in crude oil prices, according to the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) April passenger and cargo performance reports. The massive spike in operational costs is being passed directly onto the consumer. Willie Walsh, the Director General of IATA, said, “The cost of jet fuel more than doubled in April, which is pushing airfares up. Forward schedule data is showing a reduced offering in the coming months, indicating that airlines are balancing high fuel costs and weaker demand". ........... Middle Eastern airlines experienced a 46.6 per cent year-on-year drop in passenger demand in April 2026. This collapse in the Middle East also dragged the entire global passenger market down into a 3.4 per cent contraction. However, there seems to be a silver lining. The numbers also mark a noticeable improvement from March, when Middle Eastern carriers suffered a devastating 59.2 per cent year-on-year crash in overall traffic. Excluding the Middle East, global air travel demand remained resilient in April, led by Latin America (+8.9 per cent) and Asia-Pacific (+3 per cent), while Europe posted modest growth of 0.9 per cent and North America was flat. Asia-Pacific airlines recorded a record April load factor of 87.5 per cent, although traffic between Japan and China slowed due to political tensions. European carriers benefited from a 15.3 per cent rise in direct Europe-Asia traffic as travellers avoided Middle East transit routes. African carriers reported a 2.2 per cent increase in demand. One of Kuwait's most respected media columnists, Ahmed Al Jarallah, gives a look at how the Kuwaiti's see the "Iranian problem". The many cultural misunderstandings and the stubborn refusal to negotiate and the fears of the Kuwaiti and other Gulf State citizens as the region's troubled child and the west's tensions collide..... https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....14416cfb42.png https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1504e18600.png Text courtesy of the Arab Times Kuwait (printed May 25, 2026) The Iranian devil is in the details Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strait........the Strait of Hormuz is completely clear of shipping that are using their AIS transponders....that is not to say that there may be ships sailing dark. At time of writing there are no reports of incidents. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....17830722b4.png The Bab-el-Mandab Strait is running freely and very busy this morning, again now reported issues https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4683f650bd.png Onto the Persian Gulf from Umm Qasr to Doha.......once again there is a very visible push to get ships further away from the Strait of Hormuz. Several ships that had gone dark have reactivated AIS and there is some movement but as has been the case for weeks, the Iranian herders are there, still milling around the ships. It also should be said that the weather is also causing problems in the region as a whole with daytime temps climbing well over 49 / 120 degrees. The seafarers who have already run short of drinking water and food aboard the ships will, inevitably be suffering further hardships. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....935d7f976a.png The ports and anchorages from Mina Saqr to Jebel Ali and Das Island are busier today with more ships activating their AIS transponders. Again the temperatures are becoming an issue in regard to the health and welfare of the seafarers. Local support boats consisting of tugs and pleasure craft are visiting the ships, likely to be supplying essentials to them. Not many Iranian herders so far today in the area https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6af5ce3ef2.png On the Gulf of Oman from Dibba to Muscat, the ports of Dibba, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah are looking quiet this morning, very little movement of ships into or out of those ports. There is a strange looking ring of ships off Dibba but otherwise the other anchorages seem reasonably normal, if a little lighter than of late. Again there will be ships that are dark on AIS. The Iranian herders are out and about still in the area. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....569c4b51da.png https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7ea6d0d011.png Once again there are no updates available regarding the remaining injured crew from CMA CGM San Antonio that was attacked 3 weeks ago during the ill-fated Project Freedom. Thats it for today....more tomorrow. |
Could the Gulf states and/or the US Navy offer Dead-or-Alive bounties on Iranian 'herders' in certain waters?
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Originally Posted by jolihokistix
(Post 12094039)
Could the Gulf states and/or the US Navy offer Dead-or-Alive bounties on Iranian 'herders' in certain waters?
Any attack or attempt to attack or move on the Iranian herders....which largely consist of speed boats, fishing boats, tugs, rig support ships, ekranoplan and LCT's plus anything else deemed to float and equipped with something as basic as a couple of AK-47 (not to mention the loitering Ghadir)...would send Iran into an absolute frenzy. The risk of retaliation would be huge. This war against Iran underestimated the ability of Iran to fight back. They might not have a Navy left or an Air Force...least not in a western sense...but they have ardent fighters who will defend their leadership to the death and not only at sea in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman but the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandab Strait. Iran have used a variety of ships and boats for decades, they really did not need a full scale military force......a dozen well armed men using speed boats is ample to cause intimidation and, in some cases, people to be killed. Remember the USS Cole in 2000, attacked by a small boat with two men in Aden...Al-Qaeda carried it out. The Houthi are as active now as Al-Qaeda were back then. Two men, one small boat killed 17 USN sailors and injured several others....it would be far worse now. Iran has effectively perfected guerilla warfare on land, at sea (and in the air with their drones). Gulf States are more westernised in their military ability than Iran....in a world where tenacity and creativity ruled how a country acts militarily, Iran wins hands down. Don't forget there are many Iran backed factions in the region and beyond across the world. Any attempt to force Iran into submission will bring about the worst possible conclusion...their spread is worlwide, they are fanatical and to die a Martyr to save their country of Iran is the goal for these extremists. The normal people of Iran who are not fanatics will pay an immeasurably high price first....the rest of the world, via the cells, will follow. Iran is like a hornet....leave it alone and it is just irritating and buzzy but won't do much harm......start trying to kill it and all heck will break loose. |
Originally Posted by BonnieLass
(Post 12094050)
That would be suicidal.
Any attack or attempt to attack or move on the Iranian herders....which largely consist of speed boats, fishing boats, tugs, rig support ships, ekranoplan and LCT's plus anything else deemed to float and equipped with something as basic as a couple of AK-47 (not to mention the loitering Ghadir)...would send Iran into an absolute frenzy. The risk of retaliation would be huge. This war against Iran underestimated the ability of Iran to fight back. They might not have a Navy left or an Air Force...least not in a western sense...but they have ardent fighters who will defend their leadership to the death and not only at sea in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman but the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandab Strait. Iran have used a variety of ships and boats for decades, they really did not need a full scale military force......a dozen well armed men using speed boats is ample to cause intimidation and, in some cases, people to be killed. Remember the USS Cole in 2000, attacked by a small boat with two men in Aden...Al-Qaeda carried it out. The Houthi are as active now as Al-Qaeda were back then. Two men, one small boat killed 17 USN sailors and injured several others....it would be far worse now. Iran has effectively perfected guerilla warfare on land, at sea (and in the air with their drones). Gulf States are more westernised in their military ability than Iran....in a world where tenacity and creativity ruled how a country acts militarily, Iran wins hands down. Don't forget there are many Iran backed factions in the region and beyond across the world. Any attempt to force Iran into submission will bring about the worst possible conclusion...their spread is worlwide, they are fanatical and to die a Martyr to save their country of Iran is the goal for these extremists. The normal people of Iran who are not fanatics will pay an immeasurably high price first....the rest of the world, via the cells, will follow. Iran is like a hornet....leave it alone and it is just irritating and buzzy but won't do much harm......start trying to kill it and all heck will break loose. A frighteningly accurate assessment I think. |
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https://x.com/clashreport/status/206...677198556?s=20 An Iranian ballistic missile strike on a Kuwaiti air base on May 30 injured several Americans and severely damaged two MQ-9 Reaper drones, despite Kuwaiti air defenses intercepting the missile. Falling debris from the intercepted Fateh-110 missile hit Ali Al Salem Air Base, causing minor injuries to about five US personnel and contractors. One Reaper drone was destroyed and another seriously damaged. Source: Bloomberg |
NAVCENT / JMIC have issued a warning to all shipping within the Strait of Hormuz, that could be impossible to comply with if a ship is at or near the narrowest point of the Strait.
Commercial vessels operating in and around the Strait of Hormuz face the risk of being treated as hostile targets if they fail to comply with U.S. military instructions, according to a pair of new maritime security advisories issued Thursday by the Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC). The warnings come as the U.S. Navy expands military operations near the Strait of Hormuz and continues enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. In one of the strongest warnings issued to commercial shipping since the crisis began, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command (NAVCENT) said vessels that do not comply with directions from U.S. forces “may be determined to be an imminent threat and subject to proportionate measure of self-defense in accordance with international law.” The advisory also states that any vessel observed engaging in or supporting mine-laying activities “will be targeted by U.S. forces in self defense.” ............. According to the notice, all traffic inbound to or outbound from Iranian ports remains subject to blockade enforcement. The advisory further states that vessels participating in ship-to-ship transfers intended to circumvent the blockade may also be considered in violation. The blockade notice warns that enforcement actions may include “disabling and destructive fires” against vessels that fail to demonstrate immediate compliance with blockading forces. While the U.S. Navy said neutral merchant shipping remains free to navigate international waters, it cautioned that it cannot guarantee the safety of vessels operating near ongoing military operations. Ships transiting the region were advised to clearly communicate their intentions, respond promptly to military hails, and maintain a standoff distance of at least 30 nautical miles from U.S. naval units to reduce the risk of misidentification. The two advisories : https://www.ukmto.org/-/media/ukmto/...72212bbe14e428 https://www.ukmto.org/-/media/ukmto/...22f459d7dcc57e The "30 nautical miles" distance to be kept from USN assets could be difficult if the USN asset is anywhere near the narrowest section of the Strait of Hormuz which is 21 nautical miles wide. Again, despite social media postings by president Trump stating the blockade will likely be lifted...the exact opposite seems to be happening. |
.would send Iran into an absolute frenzy. The risk of retaliation would be huge. Everyone seems to be afraid that by getting rid of the nest and its offshoots, someone may be offend. Otherwise this will continue. A few rockets every day into Israel from Lebanon, ongoing enrichment, fires in synagogues. Who cares until it strikes as in Golders Green. I often wonder is Biden had carried out what Trump has done, would the West have been behind him? Frogs and hot water come to mind. |
601, that's a question we can't answer, so let's not drift any further in that direction please...within this thread.
We have a lively discussion ongoing in Jet Blast to cover that aspect of this conflict. The thread title is "Why Not Attack Iran?" |
The U.S. military has stopped another commercial vessel trying to break through the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports
ByKONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press May 30, 2026, 9:29 AM WASHINGTON -- The U.S. military has stopped another merchant vessel trying to break through the American blockade of Iranian ports, a U.S. official with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Saturday. The Gambia-flagged bulk carrier Lian Star ignored multiple warnings from U.S. forces overnight as it tried to enter an Iranian port, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss military operations. The ship was disabled by U.S. aircraft in the Gulf of Oman and remains adrift there, the official said, adding that U.S. forces have not boarded it. |
Originally Posted by Hangarless
(Post 12094355)
The U.S. military has stopped another commercial vessel trying to break through the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports
ByKONSTANTIN TOROPIN Associated Press May 30, 2026, 9:29 AM I have finally found her. Her name is Lianstar rather than Lian Star. Usually operates in and around Japan according to Equasis (which I am a member of), her owner / management company is Mashini of Dubai. She is currently south of Muscat.. Her port of departure is listed as Karachi, Pakistan with a destination of Umm Qasr in Iraq, last AIS recorded position being May 24, 2026. She isn't a bulker, she is just a small general cargo vessel. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bf461d3090.png She is / was a fair distance from the Strait of Hormuz when apparently strafed......the usual "reception" given to ships that do not respond to being hailed by the USN in the area is an F/A 18 from one of the principle ships that shoots the rudder off or they shoot the funnel off....given her small size, I would suspect the funnel got shot at. |
Originally Posted by BonnieLass
(Post 12094377)
She is / was a fair distance from the Strait of Hormuz when apparently strafed......the usual "reception" given to ships that do not respond to being hailed by the USN in the area is an F/A 18 from one of the principle ships that shoots the rudder off or they shoot the funnel off....given her small size, I would suspect the funnel got shot at.
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Originally Posted by Hangarless
(Post 12094382)
I would suggest that the F18 was not out for a little bit of target practice and that there is a reason that they stopped that particular ship.
Channel 16 is being used by the USN for hailing purposes. If, by chance, Lianstar was not monitoring the channel and she was hailed by the USN wishing to know where she was going, what she was carrying etc, the USN will demand that she stops. If still no response, an aircraft will be launched from a principle ship to make contact - incase of radio failure or other issues that meant the ship was unable to communicate. If that does not raise a response they will open fire on the ship to disable it....either by shooting the rudder off (which has been done at least 4 times previously) or they will shoot the funnel off (again this has been done at least 3 times previously). On one occasion a surface ship opened fire on a non-responsive ship that ended up gaining holes shot into its engineroom. It is not target practice at all. It is standard procedure to stop a ship that is not responding to being hailed and not responding to a request to heave to. |
I happen not agree with your position that the ship was not able to "hear" the warning from the USN.
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Channel 16 is the international hailing channel and is supposed to be monitored by all vessels everywhere
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Originally Posted by KiloB
(Post 12094401)
Channel 16 is the international hailing channel and is supposed to be monitored by all vessels everywhere
Try to get a word in edgewise! |
Originally Posted by BonnieLass
(Post 12094050)
That would be suicidal.
Any attack or attempt to attack or move on the Iranian herders....which largely consist of speed boats, fishing boats, tugs, rig support ships, ekranoplan and LCT's plus anything else deemed to float and equipped with something as basic as a couple of AK-47 (not to mention the loitering Ghadir)...would send Iran into an absolute frenzy. The risk of retaliation would be huge. This war against Iran underestimated the ability of Iran to fight back. They might not have a Navy left or an Air Force...least not in a western sense...but they have ardent fighters who will defend their leadership to the death and not only at sea in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman but the Red Sea and Bab-el-Mandab Strait. Iran have used a variety of ships and boats for decades, they really did not need a full scale military force......a dozen well armed men using speed boats is ample to cause intimidation and, in some cases, people to be killed. Remember the USS Cole in 2000, attacked by a small boat with two men in Aden...Al-Qaeda carried it out. The Houthi are as active now as Al-Qaeda were back then. Two men, one small boat killed 17 USN sailors and injured several others....it would be far worse now. Iran has effectively perfected guerilla warfare on land, at sea (and in the air with their drones). Gulf States are more westernised in their military ability than Iran....in a world where tenacity and creativity ruled how a country acts militarily, Iran wins hands down. Don't forget there are many Iran backed factions in the region and beyond across the world. Any attempt to force Iran into submission will bring about the worst possible conclusion...their spread is worlwide, they are fanatical and to die a Martyr to save their country of Iran is the goal for these extremists. The normal people of Iran who are not fanatics will pay an immeasurably high price first....the rest of the world, via the cells, will follow. Iran is like a hornet....leave it alone and it is just irritating and buzzy but won't do much harm......start trying to kill it and all heck will break loose. |
Originally Posted by GlobalNav
(Post 12094421)
Maybe sending Iran into a frenzy is just what’s needed to make their forces visible and vulnerable to attack. Better than letting them attack on their schedule and wishes.
Iran is not a normal regime led military / factioned force. If that was the case, the attacks upon Iran and Iranian interests that began on February 28, 2026 would have flushed and exposed every inch of their military and factional support in the region. It didn't, it hasn't and it probably won't. The regime is like Medusa's hairdo.......multiple headed snakes that pop up everywhere. No single tactical target, always on the move, creative and tenacious in the extreme. Cut one head off and two more grow in its place. Attack Iran and Iran goes after the neighbours...not the attacker. The various factions associated with the regime hide in plain sight, they are born into desert guerilla warfare, they move like nomads, dress like them too. Their ingenuity is boundless, their faith in their regime leaders is endless and unbreakable During the peak times of ISIS, A-Qaeda etc there were small militia groups who fought those groups, in the process they learnt the tactics of those groups. Those militia are now backed by Iran (I posted some of their group names earlier in this thread). They roam freely across Iraq, Kuwait, UAE, Saudi Arabia. They attack neighbours in the name of their Iranian brothers. They are virtually impossible to hunt down.....they learnt how to vanish into thin air from terror cells, afterall. Iran and its multiple factions have infiltrated everywhere.....the regime is exceptionally strong and it is exceptionally manipulative. You can bomb them to Kingdom come and they will not surrender one iota, they just get stronger and their cells around the world will create havoc on the word of the regime. You cannot compartmentalise the Iranian regime like you can perhaps a western enemy...every Iranian regime leader who is killed is replaced before the blood is dry. It is impossible to defeat a regime like Iran using normal strategy and tactics...you have to think like them, behave like them and live their way and only then can you maybe beat them at their own game. Even if the US finally reaches the end of their teather with Iran and drops a nuclear bomb on the country, the regime will not be dead.....the cells around the world will see to that. It is why Iran have been largely left alone for all of these years....taking them on is far too risky and costly in human lives. The other Gulf States are not friendly with Iran at all....they tolerate Iran cos they know and understand that to attack Iran would bring immense suffering to those Gulf States and the wider world, in lost lives and financial losses that would far outstrip the costs already paid by the Gulf States and the world during the recent hostilities. |
given her small size, I would suspect the funnel got shot at. U.S. forces disabled a commercial vessel attempting to reach an Iranian port after its crew ignored more than 20 warnings, according to a statement posted Saturday by U.S. Central Command on X. CENTCOM said the Gambia-flagged M/V Lian Star was transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman toward an Iranian port on May 29 when U.S. forces warned the vessel that it was violating the U.S. blockade. After the crew failed to comply, a U.S. aircraft fired a Hellfire missile into the ship's engine room, disabling the vessel and preventing it from continuing its voyage, CENTCOM said. "The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," CENTCOM said. The military added that U.S. forces have now disabled five commercial vessels and redirected 116 others while enforcing the blockade as a ceasefire with Iran remains in effect. Posted by Brittany Miller-Fox Digital |
“Iran is like a hornet....leave it alone and it is just irritating and buzzy but won't do much harm......”
… until the said hornet gets strong enough that you regret having left it alone |
A nuclear hornet?
|
Today's updates on the Strait of Hormuz, Bab-el-Mandab Strait and ports & anchorages across the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman.........plus an example of how a shipping company is managing it's stuck ships and crew from afar, a containership with Iranian ties manages 3 transits with ease and the Iranian government is about to bring in legally binding Strait of Hormuz management plan
One of the sticking points on the ceasefire and lasting peace in the region is the free passage of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz following its closure at the start of hostilities on February 28, 2026. The Iranians have made it perfectly clear that they will regard the Strait as partially their territorial waters....shared with Oman.....and that they will bring in controls to enable those territorial waters to be monitored along with navigational, environmental and insurance issues. They refuse and reject interference from outside countries in regard to how they operate within their territorial waters. The Iranian lawmakers are firmly determined to turn a proposal on managing the Strait of Hormuz into law, an MP said, stressing that decisions regarding the strategic waterway fall solely within the jurisdiction of Iran and Oman.Speaking to Tasnim on Saturday, Alireza Salimi said the Parliament has made a definitive decision to legislate the management of the Strait of Hormuz and that the proposal would be finalized and enacted into law. He stated that the Strait of Hormuz lies within the shared territorial domain of Iran and Oman, adding that Tehran would not allow any other country to make decisions concerning its territorial sphere. A containership operated by SeaLead....that has loose connections with Iran and had been subject to US sanctions in 2025...has managed to make no less than 3 Strait of Hormuz transits within the last month. Using her AIS transponder very briefly she has made journeys without any issues. The ship is currently off Doha, she was formerly owned by Evergreen (previous name : Ever Dainty) and there are no photos of her as she is now.... https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....fac969f327.png The Paya Lebar first transited westbound through the Strait of Hormuz westbound into the Gulf on 13 April having been at anchor in Nhava Sheva, India since late March. While in the Gulf the vessel called at Jebel Ali and Khalifa ports in the UAE and Hamad in Qatar. The Paya Lebar then crossed the Strait of Hormuz eastbound on 28 April and headed back to Nhava Sheva and then moved to Kandla on 13 May. One of the many companies who has ships currently stuck in the Persian Gulf has given insight into their daily routines in regard to making sure that their crews and ships are safe and to ensure that crews can communicate with their families whilst unable to leave the area. Anglo-Eastern have 16 ships with 350 crew in the Persian Gulf. Swapnodeep Mondal, Group Managing Director, Operations and Shared Services at Anglo-Eastern, commented: “What the current environment demands is not more information, but better interpretation – the ability to place intelligence in context, compare it across a fleet, assess it against specific vessel and voyage profiles, and translate it into practical, timely guidance.” The security desk has maintained as structured daily routine to support vessels, crews and clients since the crisis in the Middle East unfolded with start of Iran war on 28 February. A white paper from Anglo-Eastern set out the daily routine. 06:00 The overnight intelligence digest drawn from military, governmental and commercial sources is reviewed by the Global Security Desk 08:00 A daily situation call brings together fleet operations, technical, crew welfare, legal and security teams for a cross-functional assessment 09:00 A vessel-by-vessel status report is compiled covering stores, crew health, morale and position. 10:00 Owner briefings are issued to all affected shipowners 14:00 Flag state and P&I coordination calls (as required). 18:00 An end-of-day assessment reviews any escalation triggers and briefs the night watch Onto the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandab Strait The Strait of Hormuz is relatively quiet so far and with no reported incidents at time of writing. There is a ship, however, heading towards the Strait that might ruffle some feathers. She is the US registered Jersey Devil. She is listed as a tanker...but she is, infact, a fishing boat built in 1985 and owned by Oceanside Marine according to Equasis database. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....2f0ab92a17.png https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....819dafd6da.png TheBab-el-Mandab Strait is operating freely and busy, again no incidents reported at time of writing https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....9440e2bec1.png The ports and anchorages from Umm Qasr to Doha are busy once again, very little by way of change. Temperatures in the area are in the low 50's currently and the herders are never far away https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....7493e93227.png The ports and anchorages from Mina Saqr to Jebel Ali are significantly busier today, with the most ships positioned in the Sharjah and Dubai anchorages with the usual herders nearby https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5a7238f66e.png Ports and anchorages in the Gulf of Oman are reasonable this morning. Dibba, Khor Fakkan and Fujairah ports are active, their anchorages are fairly quiet with the caveat of AIS dark shipping. Further south on the Al Widyyat, Liwa and Sohar anchorages it is a little busier and the herders are milling around the ships as normal. Muscat is very busy this morning along with the sea lane offshore. https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....07b8db32c5.png https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f7d3dca9b9.png No updates as yet regarding the remaining injured crew from CMA CGM San Antonio. That's it for now....back tomorrow |
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