Since the start of the war against Iran, there have been more than 20 attacks on merchant ships in the Persian Gulf. The UN's International Maritime Organization (IMO) reported that 10 people were killed and some were injured as a result of the strikes. "Since the beginning of the conflict on 28 February 2026, the IMO has confirmed 21 attacks on merchant ships, resulting in the death of 10 seafarers and several serious injuries.
About 20,000 civilian mariners remain on ships in the Persian Gulf, facing depleted supplies, fatigue and severe psychological stress," the statement said. On February 28, the United States and Israel started a war against Iran. The attacks reached the major cities of Iran, including Tehran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a large-scale retaliatory attack on Israel. US military facilities in Bahrain, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and Saudi Arabia were also hit.
