Shipping authorities issued warnings for commercial vessels transiting one of the world's most strategic energy chokepoints on Friday. Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy launched at least 5 cruise missiles at ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center confirmed a separate strike in the waterway that occurred on Wednesday.

The surge in hostilities follows a strike on the Togo flagged tanker Trend, which caught fire during an alleged illegal transit. Commodity ship traffic through the corridor fell to 4 vessels on Thursday, down from a 10 day average of about 16, as operators navigate the increased security risks.