An Iranian merchant vessel was struck by drones off the coast of Qeshm and Hengam islands on Sunday, 13 September 2026, leading to the death of one sailor and injuring three others.
- One Iranian sailor killed and three wounded in drone strike off Qeshm and Hengam islands
- UKMTO records projectile impact and vessel evacuation in the Strait of Hormuz
- Houthi forces claim attacks on Saudi Arabia and seize control of Mocha and Mayyun Island
- Scheduled diplomatic talks in Oman approach as oil prices surge above $100 per barrel
On Sunday, 13 September 2026, an Iranian merchant vessel was struck by drones off the coast of Qeshm and Hengam islands, resulting in the death of one sailor and leaving
three others wounded. Iranian state television and Qeshm governor Amir Teymouri confirmed the incident, which occurred at approximately 5:00 a.m. local time, attributing the attack to a "terrorist enemy." The UK Maritime Trade Operations separately recorded a projectile impact on a vessel in the strait, confirming reports of fire and vessel evacuation. Hours after the Hormuz strike, Houthi forces claimed to have launched ballistic missiles and drones at the Sharurah military base in Saudi Arabia, targeting command rooms and weapons depots. Additionally, a projectile strike in Jazan left
two Saudi nationals injured and caused damage to a mosque. Iraq-originated drones have also forced the continued closure of Saudi Arabia's East-West pipeline.
On the Red Sea front, Houthi forces seized control of Mocha on Thursday and Mayyun Island on Friday, consolidating their hold over the Bab al-Mandeb strait. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree reported that
Saudi-led coalition aircraft conducted 129 air strikes over a 48-hour period in retaliation. These hostilities have resulted in the displacement of approximately 46,000 people, with over 1,400 individuals fleeing to Djibouti.
These events precede scheduled diplomatic talks in Oman on Monday, where Gulf foreign ministers are set to meet with Iranian representatives to discuss the security of the Strait of Hormuz. Regional reactions remain divided: Bahrain has refused to participate until diplomatic relations with Tehran are restored, while Qatar has condemned both Iranian strikes on Arab territory and Houthi attacks on Saudi civilian and economic sites. The UAE continues to intercept Iranian missiles, and
Saudi Arabia maintains a dual-front response against Houthi forces in Yemen and pipeline threats. Oil prices have surged above $100 per barrel as market participants monitor potential disruptions to flight paths and LNG loadings from Ras Laffan and the UAE.
