UN counts 25 seafarers killed around Hormuz since the war
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Al Jazeera
At least 25 seafarers have been killed in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the start of the war waged by the United States and Israel against Iran in February, according to the United Nations. Khaled Khiari, UN Assistant Secretary-General for the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, gave this toll, covering the period up to 11 November, at a Security Council briefing on Friday.
The Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters recorded 136 security incidents involving ships between 1 March and 11 November, according to the International Maritime Organization, cited by UN Assistant Secretary-General Khaled Khiari. October saw 35 incidents, the highest monthly total since the start of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, according to the UN.
Khaled Khiari, UN official for the Middle East and Asia-Pacific, called for full restoration of maritime navigation in the region and asked that civilian and commercial vessels not become targets. He spoke on Friday 13 November before the UN Security Council.
On Saturday 14 November, Iranian authorities said three oil tankers had struck mines while crossing sectors deemed unauthorised or restricted in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran in particular demands an end to the US naval blockade, the lifting of economic sanctions and an end to fighting to allow the passage to reopen, while the US military says it has cleared the main sea routes of mines.
