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Three Crew Missing as Tugboat Sinks Amid Rising Tensions

3/9/2026

Center

Tugboat Attack Update

Three Indonesian crew members are missing after UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in Strait of Hormuz on March 6, reportedly after being struck by two missiles while assisting Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige.
The Safeen Prestige had been attacked earlier.
The International Maritime Organization reported seven fatalities from attacks, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards have threatened to target vessels and block the strait amid escalating tensions from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

Right

Iran's Maritime Threat

In the Strait of Hormuz, seven people have died in ship attacks, according to the International Maritime Organisation.
Since Iran's blockade in response to US-Israeli strikes, around ten vessels have been targeted, halting 90% of traffic.
The UK maritime security agency has issued alerts.
The Foreign Minister says there is no plan to close the strait, despite threats from Iran's Revolutionary Guards to burn ships.

History

Historical Context

The Iran-Iraq War, which began in 1980, sparked significant maritime conflicts in the Strait of Hormuz, with over 500 ships attacked during the conflict. Today, threats from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, including missile strikes and potential closures of the strait—through which 20% of the world's oil supply transits—continue to disrupt shipping and escalate geopolitical tensions, impacting global oil markets.

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Tugboat Attack Update

Three Indonesian crew members are missing after UAE-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 sank in Strait of Hormuz on March 6, reportedly after being struck by two missiles while assisting Malta-flagged Safeen Prestige.
The Safeen Prestige had been attacked earlier.
The International Maritime Organization reported seven fatalities from attacks, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards have threatened to target vessels and block the strait amid escalating tensions from the US-Israeli war with Iran.

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