World·Iran / Shipping

UKMTO: 12 ships attacked around Strait of Hormuz this week; Iran says strait reopens only if U.S. leaves

Published 5:00 PM CT, Friday, October 16, 2026
In the 5 PM CT update

The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations Centre said Friday that 12 ships reported being attacked around the Strait of Hormuz this week, 10 of them in the strait itself, with one vessel lost and two disabled, Fox News reported. Iranian Army spokesman Mohammad Akraminia said on X that "if America leaves the region, the Strait of Hormuz will reopen" and "if it doesn't leave, we'll expel it," while U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper said that apart from humanitarian aid the U.S. has allowed, "Iran has no exports and no imports by sea." The Saudi-led coalition said Friday it intercepted three drones, two cruise missiles over the Red Sea and a ballistic missile fired toward Yanbu, Fox News reported.

• Strait of Hormuz
• Iran
• UKMTO
• U.S. Central Command
• Brad Cooper
• Shipping attacks
• Houthis
• Saudi Arabia
• Yanbu
• Oil prices
• Red Sea
• United States