* Armed Iranian boats attacked two tankers in Iraqi

waters, Iraq port security officials said

* Thailand-flagged bulk carrier damaged off Oman

* Most crew evacuated, three feared missing

* Japan-flagged container ship and Greek-owned bulk

carrier sustain minor damage

(Adds attacks on two tankers in Iraqi waters in paragraphs 4-9)

By Aref Mohammed Ahmed Rasheed Jonathan Saul

DUBAI/BASRA, Iraq, March 11 (Reuters) - Iranian

explosive-laden boats appear to have attacked two fuel tankers

in Iraqi waters setting them ablaze and killing one crew member

on Wednesday, after projectiles struck three vessels in Gulf

waters, said port, maritime security and risk firms.

The latest attacks mark an escalation in the conflict

between Iran and U.S.-Israeli forces, raising the number of

ships struck in the region since fighting began to at least 16.

Shipping in the Gulf and along the narrow Strait of Hormuz,

which carries around a fifth of the world's oil, has come to a

near-standstill since the U.S. and Israel began strikes on Iran

on February 28, sending global oil prices surging to highs not

seen since 2022.

The ships targeted in late-night armed boat attacks in the

Gulf near Iraq were the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu

and the Zefyros, which had loaded fuel cargoes in Iraq, two

Iraqi port officials said.

"We recovered the body of a foreign crew member from the

water," one port security official said, as Iraqi rescue teams

continued searching for other missing seafarers. It was not

immediately clear which ship that person was linked to.

The Safesea Vishnu's U.S.-based commercial operator and

beneficial operator are Safesea Transport Group and Safesea

Group, respectively, according to data from Lloyd's List

Intelligence. They did not immediately respond to requests for

comment.

One Iraqi port security source said Zefyros is flagged in

Malta and provided Reuters with a list of crew names.

Zefyros Trading S.A. is the registered owner of the tanker

matching that name and description, according to Lloyd's List

Intelligence data. Lloyd's data shows UK-based Cygnus Tankers

Limited as the commercial operator and the George & Vassilis

Michael family group of companies, a key player in Greek

shipping, as the beneficial owner.

Cygnus Tankers did not immediately respond to requests for

comment. Reuters was not able to immediately reach the other two

entities.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned that any ship

passing through the Strait of Hormuz will be targeted. U.S.

President Donald Trump has threatened to ramp up U.S. attacks on

Iran if it continues to obstruct the strait.

The Thai-flagged Mayuree Naree dry bulk vessel was struck by

"two projectiles of unknown origin" while sailing through the

strait earlier on Wednesday, causing a fire and damaging the

engine room, the ship's Thai-listed operator Precious Shipping

said in a statement.

"Three crew members are reported missing and believed to be

trapped in the engine room," Precious Shipping said.

"The company is working with the relevant authorities to

rescue these three missing crew members," it said, adding that

the remaining 20 crew members had been safely evacuated and were

ashore in Oman.

Images provided by the Thai navy showed smoke pouring out of

the back of the ship.

Iran's Guards said in a statement carried by the Tasnim news

agency that the ship was "fired upon by Iranian fighters",

suggesting the first direct engagement by the Guards who have

previously fired missiles or drones.

The U.S. Navy has refused near-daily requests from the

shipping industry for military escorts through the Strait of

Hormuz since ​the start of the war on Iran, saying the risk of

attacks is too high for now, sources familiar with the matter

told Reuters. Trump has said the U.S. is prepared to provide

naval escorts whenever needed.

TWO OTHER SHIPS SUSTAIN MINOR DAMAGE

The Japan-flagged container ship ONE Majesty also sustained

minor damage on Wednesday from an unknown projectile 25 nautical

miles (46 km) northwest of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab

Emirates, two maritime security firms said.

Its Japanese owner Mitsui O.S.K. Lines ( MSLOF ) and a

spokesperson for Ocean Network Express, its charterer, said the

vessel was struck while at anchor in the Gulf and an inspection

of the hull revealed minor damage above the waterline.

All crew are safe, they said, adding that the vessel remains

fully operational and seaworthy. The owner said the cause of the

incident remained unclear and was under investigation.

A third vessel, a bulk carrier, was also hit by an unknown

projectile approximately 50 miles (30 miles) northwest of Dubai,

maritime security firms said.

The projectile had damaged the hull of the Marshall

Islands-flagged Star Gwyneth, maritime risk management company

Vanguard said, adding that the vessel's crew were safe. Owner

Star Bulk Carriers ( SBLK ) said the ship was hit in the hold area whilst

anchored. There were no crew injuries and no listing.

The Guards' statement included a reference to another ship,

which it said was hit by projectiles - usually a reference to

drones - on Wednesday morning. Reuters was not immediately able

to confirm that report.