Iranian Attack Forces Chinese Ship to U-Turn in Strait of Hormuz

• A China-flagged vessel, Hailan Journey, made an abrupt U-turn in the Strait of Hormuz after an Iranian projectile struck the Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree ahead of it.
• The incident occurred on March 11, less than two hours after the Mayuree Naree was damaged 11 nautical miles north of Oman.
• Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for striking two ships, Mayuree Naree and Liberian-flagged Express Rome, for ignoring warnings.
• The Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, has seen increased disruptions and attacks amidst the ongoing West Asia conflict.
• Other vessels, including Japan-flagged ONE Majesty and Marshall Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, have also been hit by projectiles recently.