“We are aware of the reports but do not have further details. We continue to urge ships to practise maximum caution in the area,” the UN International Maritime Organization (IMO) said, as it works to verify a series of recent attacks and security warnings issued to commercial vessels.
According to the internationally-recognised maritime safety portal UKMTO, a tanker was reportedly hit by unknown projectiles north of Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, on 4 May, while a bulk carrier was attacked by multiple small craft near Iran a day earlier.
Other vessels in the area have been instructed via radio to move from their anchorages, reflecting the volatile security environment.
Since late February, at least 41 incidents affecting vessels operating in and around the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman have been reported to UKMTO.
A computer-generated image shows the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran claimed on Monday that it had hit a US naval vessel, preventing it from entering the strait, but the US denied there had been any strike. Late on Sunday, President Donald Trump posted that the US would help ships leave the strait who have been stranded there for months.
UN response
IMO, the UN maritime agency, is working with the shipping industry on contingency planning, including a possible safe evacuation framework for vessels and crews caught in the conflict zone.
Around 800 ships engaged in international trade – including oil tankers, bulk carriers and container vessels – could potentially be involved in such an evacuation, carrying vital energy supplies and commodities.
With an average of 25 crew members per vessel, this translates to roughly 20,000 seafarers directly exposed to the risks.
Escorts, no solution
“All the people – seafarers – on board ships of any kind in the Persian Gulf area are vulnerable to any re-escalation of the conflict,” IMO warned, noting risks from missiles, falling debris and potential shortages of food and water on board.
While some crew changes and repatriations have taken place – with around 450 seafarers assisted – tens of thousands remain at sea, as the broader fleet in the region numbers closer to 3,000 vessels of all types.
The maritime agency also said that naval escorts alone cannot provide a lasting solution, calling for de-escalation and a long-term agreement to ensure safe navigation.
“Naval escorts are not a sustainable solution, true de-escalation and a long-term agreement that ensures the safety of seafarers is the only way forward,” it said.
Tents set up inside a college in Beirut, Lebanon, provide accommodation for people who have been displaced by the conflict.
Lebanon’s health system strained
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, a fragile post-ceasefire environment continues to strain an already weakened health system, with intermittent hostilities and access constraints disrupting care.
According to the latest update from UN, health agencies and partners, the situation remains “highly volatile,” particularly in southern areas and locations where displaced people are attempting to return.
Health service availability is severely constrained. Three hospitals and 41 primary healthcare centres remain non-operational, while several others are only partially functioning, focusing on emergency care and chronic disease management.
These limitations are placing intense pressure on the remaining facilities, reducing the quality and continuity of care and leaving many communities without access to essential services.
Shortages of medicines
Shortages of essential medicines, including treatments for non-communicable diseases as well as medical supplies are already placing vulnerable patients at immediate risk.
If gaps are not addressed, health officials warn of rising complications, avoidable deaths and further deterioration.
Despite these challenges, partners continue to scale up support, including screening for tuberculosis for those displaced.
More than 750 people have been screened in recent weeks, although humanitarian actors caution that the overall response remains constrained by funding and access limitations.