Reported attacks on shipping through Strait of Hormuz have reached record highs in October, as Iran has continued to fight for control of the vital waterway.

U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) identified attacks against 12 vessels in and around the strait between October 5 and 11, the most ever tracked by the agency in the area in a single week. Six of those vessels were hit on October 11, marking a single-day high.

More recent data from UKMTO shows that attacks around the Strait of Hormuz continued into the following week, including two tanker attacks in the Central Arabian Gulf and the Gulf of Aden on October 17, and a strike on a tug in the strait the following day. An October 18 advisory from the agency maintained a "severe" threat assessment for the region, and warned that further attacks are likely in the coming days and weeks.

"These actions continue to demonstrate Iran’s intent to assert presence along key transit lanes and maintain pressure on transiting vessels," UKMTO warned.

The true number of attacks against commercial vessels could be higher than reports indicate as well, UKMTO added, given that the majority of vessels are refusing to report to the agency.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has continued to be limited in the meantime. UKMTO recorded 254 commercial transits through the Strait of Hormuz in the seven day period between October 8 and October 14, roughly 70% below weekly pre-conflict levels.