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Merchant vessels report gunfire as they attempt to cross Hormuz, shipping sources say

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 18, 2026

1 min read

· Last updated: April 19, 2026

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ATHENS, April 18 (Reuters) - At least two merchant vessels said they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, three maritime security and shipping sources said.

Strait of Hormuz: Merchant Vessels Report Gunfire Amid Transit Attempts

Incident Overview and Initial Reports

Gunfire Reported During Strait Transit

Details from Maritime Security and Shipping Sources

ATHENS, April 18 (Reuters) - At least two merchant vessels said they were hit by gunfire as they attempted to cross the Strait of Hormuz on Saturday, three maritime security and shipping sources said.

Unclear Impact and Ongoing Assessment

The impact was not immediately clear.

Reporting and Editorial Credits

(Reporting by Yannis Souliotis in Athens and Marwa Rashad in London; Writing by Renee Maltezou; Editing by Louise Heavens)

Key Takeaways

  • The Strait of Hormuz has seen a sharp rise in attacks on merchant vessels since early March, with over 20 maritime security incidents reported across the Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman (dbce.org).
  • High-profile prior incidents include the March 11 attack on the Thai‑flagged Mayuree Naree, which caught fire and led to crew evacuation with fatalities and missing sailors (lemonde.fr).
  • Through the crisis, shipping traffic has plummeted—only about 150 ships have passed since March 1, a fraction of normal volume—highlighting growing risk and economic impact (lemonde.fr)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened at the Strait of Hormuz on April 18?
At least two merchant vessels reported being hit by gunfire as they tried to cross the Strait of Hormuz.
How many vessels were affected by gunfire in the incident?
Three shipping and maritime security sources stated that at least two merchant vessels were affected.
Was there any clarity on the impact of the gunfire?
The initial reports did not clarify the extent or nature of the impact on the vessels.
Who reported on the incident involving merchant vessels in Hormuz?
The report was made by Yannis Souliotis in Athens and Marwa Rashad in London, with additional writing and editing staff.

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