News 17 Mar, 2026 Astaara Update to interested parties on ongoing US-Israeli War (“Operation Epic Fury”) with Iran - 12 March ASTAARA is West P&I's cyber security partner, providing specialist cyber risk intelligence, advisory and insurance solutions to the maritime and energy sectors. Download PDF 1.  PURPOSE The purpose of this memorandum is to share information with our shipowners and brokers on known developments within the Persian Gulf from an operational / cyber and insurance perspective. Sources of the content are MTO and associated agencies. 2. GENERAL SITUATION (UPDATED) The 28th Feb 2026 and onwards ‘Epic Fury’ attacks on Iran by Israel and the US will almost certainly increase the cyber threat regionally in the medium term. Other, possibly non-regional, hostile cyber threat actors may be encouraged in the ‘fog of war’ to attack elsewhere while masking their true intentions, and there are a number of Tier 2 Iranian proxies who may well launch attacks on infrastructure as the kinetic conflict continues. Meanwhile competent authorities are reporting a significant increase in GNSS spoofing and jamming, requiring Masters and crews to be extra vigilant and cautious in their navigation. Currently the threat is non-specific i.e. anyone is a target, with the objective being to cause maximum disruption globally. While on 12th March the newly appointed Supreme Leader issued a statement in familiar bellicose terms, Mojtada Khamenei has yet to be seen in person. 3.  MTO GUIDANCE (UPDATED) 12th March. The regional maritime threat environment across the Arabian Gulf, Strait of Hormuz, and Gulf of Oman remains CRITICAL. On 12 March, three additional commercial vessels were struck within the Arabian Gulf, including the laden tanker ZEFYROS, laden tanker SAFESEA VISHNU, and the container vessel SOURCE BLESSING. The attacks underscore the continued risk to merchant mariners operating in the region. Since the start of hostilities, more than twenty maritime incident