Security tensions across the Middle East have intensified following the reported sinking of two cargo ships near the Strait of Hormuz, declining oil shipments through the strategic waterway and reports that the US is preparing additional strike options against Iran, potentially including the powerful GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast (MOAB) bomb.
The developments come as commercial shipping faces growing risks, energy markets remain vulnerable to supply disruptions and Saudi Arabia reports the interception of aerial threats, including a ballistic missile launched towards Riyadh.
Together, the incidents highlight the expanding security and economic consequences of the ongoing conflict and the uncertainty surrounding efforts to restore stability across the region.
Two cargo ships sink near Strait of Hormuz
Two cargo vessels reportedly sank within a 24-hour period after being struck by unidentified projectiles in separate incidents near the Strait of Hormuz.
The Singapore-registered container ship GFS Pride was struck on Tuesday, October 13, while transiting the strait, according to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. The vessel caught fire and subsequently sank, but all 21 crew members were safely evacuated.
Iranian state broadcaster Press TV reported that the ship had struck a sea mine while travelling along what it described as an unauthorised route.
The second vessel, Cape Dao, registered in Antigua and Barbuda, also sank, according to information attributed to the International Maritime Organization. The ship had reportedly been struck by a projectile on September 23. One Indian crew member was killed in the incident.
Oil shipments through Hormuz fall sharply
The latest maritime incidents come amid a significant reduction in oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
According to maritime data tracking service Kpler, only 4.147 million barrels of oil transited the waterway on Monday, less than one-quarter of pre-war levels. The seven-day average of oil flows has also declined sharply since early October.
US reportedly considers using ‘Mother of All Bombs’
Meanwhile, the United States military has reportedly developed additional strike plans against Iran that could include the use of the GBU-43/B Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb, widely known as the “mother of all bombs.”
According to a CNN report citing multiple US officials familiar with the planning, the options could involve strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure and nuclear-related sites if President Donald Trump orders combat operations to resume, either before or after the US midterm elections.
The MOAB is the largest conventional bomb in the US arsenal by total weight. It is a non-nuclear weapon designed to produce an extremely powerful blast.
Its potential use in the current conflict would represent a significant escalation. However, the reported plans do not establish that President Trump has authorised the weapon's deployment.
There are also questions about whether using the bomb would achieve the broader objectives of the military campaign, particularly against hardened or deeply buried nuclear facilities, the CNN report said.
Saudi Arabia reports missile interceptions
Regional security concerns have also been reinforced by reports from Saudi Arabia concerning missile and drone threats.
Major General Turki Al-Malki, spokesperson for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, stated that a ballistic missile launched by the Houthi movement towards Riyadh had been intercepted and destroyed.
Al-Malki also reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle had been intercepted and destroyed in Saudi Arabia's Eastern Region.
