By Cassell Bryan-Low LONDON, March 11 (Reuters) - Naval drones have been used in at least two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region since war erupted between the U.S., Israel and Iran, according to maritime authorities and analysts,

Fighting between the US, Israel, and Iran has damaged ships near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key oil trade route.

A flotilla of at least 25 supertankers is heading to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea port of Yanbu as the kingdom races to get its oil to market after the Iran war halted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Although President Trump said seizing tankers would be a financial boon, the cost of maintaining just one aging ship has already reached $47 million.

The U.S. said it had destroyed 16 Iranian mine-laying ships amid fears Tehran could deploy hundreds of mines to effectively booby-trap the critical shipping lane.

Oil prices have surged dramatically in early 2026, driven by the escalating Iran conflict and fears of Strait of Hormuz disruption. Crude oil surged over the weekend before settling near $84 per barrel at 5:00 p.

More than a dozen oil tankers, cargo and other commercial ships have been attacked in the Persian Gulf since the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran began nearly two weeks ago.

A massive flotilla of tankers is rushing to Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast to pick up crude oil that has been diverted as a result of Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Between 24 and 30 large crude carriers are en route to the Saudi Arabian port city of Yanbu,

The Strait of Hormuz is effectively closed. Since the beginning of the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran on Feb. 28, 2026, oil tanker traffic through the world’s most critical oil shipping choke point has collapsed,

President Trump argued the U.S. benefits when oil prices go up on Thursday amid growing concerns over the impact of Washington’s operation in Iran on energy costs. “The United States is the largest