The Singapore-flagged container ship GFS Pride sank near the Strait of Hormuz after catching fire from a projectile strike or naval mine, while an overnight Houthi missile attack damaged the top executive floors of Saudi Aramco’s headquarters in Dhahran.
Strait of Hormuz Ship Sinking
• GFS Pride Sinking: The Singapore-registered container ship sank following a fire triggered by an unknown projectile or naval mine while transiting near Oman's coast.
• Crew Safety: All 21 crew members on the GFS Pride were safely evacuated with no reported injuries.
• Iranian Claims: Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) stated the vessel struck a naval mine after taking a route near the Omani coast that Tehran considers unauthorized.
• Broader Maritime Toll: The incident is part of a sharp escalation in commercial shipping attacks in the waterway, which handles roughly a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade. Brent crude prices surged past US$104-$107 per barrel following the attacks.
Saudi Aramco Headquarters Strike
• Dhahran Attack: Iran-aligned Houthi rebels launched a ballistic missile that struck the administrative and executive headquarters of state-owned Saudi Aramco in Dhahran.
• Damage and Operations: The strike heavily damaged the top three floors (including the offices of the chief executive and senior leadership) and sparked a fire, though core oil production operations at the complex remained functional.
• Casualties: No casualties were reported at the Aramco facility, though separate missile interceptions near Riyadh caused falling debris injuries to civilians.