Projectile event in Iran, Islamic Republic of on Wed 22nd April 2026

On 22 April 2026, around 8:30am Tehran time, IRGC navy forces opened gunfire (coded as shelling) at the MSC Francesca container ship (IMO: 9401116) in the Strait of Hormuz, as it was attempting to leave the Persian Gulf. The attack damaged the ship's hull and bridge, before it 'stopped in the water' after being told to drop anchor by the IRGC. The latter claimed they then seized the ship, directing it towards Iran, because it did not have authorization to pass through the strait and was operating with its AIS systems off, 'causing a risk to navigational safety'. As of evening of the same day, the ship was still anchored around the same location it was attacked and its status unclear. This took place amid the US/Israel-Iran conflict and a naval standoff and reciprocal blockade between the US and Iran in the Strait of Hormuz.