Special Report: The Hormuz Mine War — Claims, Confirmed Hits and the 20% Strait

Iran's Guards say at least a dozen ships have burned in the strait this month. Monitors confirm fewer — but enough to keep most traffic away. Here is the verified record, the unverified claims, the U.S. escort numbers and the new threat to undersea cables.

By Clara Hughes

On Sunday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards navy said smoke from three tankers hit by explosions was "blanketing the skies" over the Strait of Hormuz. The ships, it claimed, had taken "unauthorised routes" and disabled their navigation systems — and any vessel doing the same "will have no other fate than this," The National reported. That is the IRGC's version. This Altas World Special Report separates what is claimed from what is confirmed, as of Monday, Nov. 9. Keep reading with Altas Premium. Below: the claims-vs-confirmed board, the 20% traffic figure, America's escort numbers, the Qeshm explosions, the cable-corridor warning, the diplomacy and what to watch. [Subscribe to Altas World News →] Claims versus confirmed The IRGC has reported at least 12 ships catching fire since the start of November, mostly after striking naval mines. But few of the