Commerce raiders

2023 Houthi attacks on Red Sea

Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime choke point for world energy trade, has been largely blocked by Iran since 28 February 2026, when the United States and Israel launched an air war against Iran and assassinated its supreme leader Ali Khamenei. In retaliation, Iran launched missile and drone attacks on Israel, US military bases, and US-allied Gulf states. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) issued warnings forbidding passage through the strait, has boarded and attacked merchant ships, and has laid sea mines in the strait. Since 13 April, the US has blockaded Iranian ports, leading to a "dual blockade" of the strait. Until the US–Israeli war against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was open and about 25% of the world's seaborne oil trade and 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) passed through it.

screw sloop-of-war built in 1862

French naval strategy

confederate Navy warship

A form of naval warfare

circumnavigation by George Anson and eight other ships

ship

Confederate ship

type of warship disguised as a non-militant

houthi attacks on the MV Eternity C

1264 battle in the War of Saint Sabas

first English circumnavigation of the world