Image for representation purposes only Container Ship MSC SARISKA V became the target of an Iranian attack while leaving Iraq’s Port of Umm Qasr on June 1, 2026. The attack, confirmed by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), involved two projectiles, the first of which hit when the pilot was on board and the second struck the crew area in a matter of minutes. The 36-year-old vessel sailing under the flag of Panama is mainly used in the Persian Gulf and operates the Umm Qasr shuttle service. MSC confirmed that all the ship’s crew were safe and nobody was injured, adding that they secured the vessel and its cargo after the attack. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported this incident, stating a ship in the Arabian Gulf suffered from an explosion after being hit by a projectile on the starboard side. It added that the environmental impact of the incident has not been ascertained yet, and more details are awaited. MSC said that the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for the attack in retaliation for U.S. action on the vessel Lion Star. The shipping company said that the response towards its vessel was completely wrong and unjustified since MSC is a commercial carrier with no links to either the U.S. or Israel. A company spokesperson said that they were concerned about these unprovoked attacks on commercial ships in the region and the risks they create for innocent seafarers. The attack came in a period of heightened concerns across the Strait of Hormuz and the entire Middle East after recent warnings and advisories have urged ship operators, owners and managers to maintain vigilance and monitor updates from official reporting centres.