Two crew members remain missing and 23 others have been rescued after the Panama-flagged oil tanker El Gaya was struck in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Oman Maritime Security Centre. The vessel caught fire in its engine room following the attack and was towed to an Omani port on Tuesday, having been targeted 1.3 nautical miles north of the Musandam Peninsula.
Conflicting Accounts Over Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attacks
The incident has drawn sharply contrasting explanations from regional and international military officials. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the tanker struck naval mines and caught fire while navigating a route it categorized as banned and unsafe. The U.S. military directly disputed that narrative. According to the U.S. military, the tanker was struck by an Iranian missile last month and targeted again by a drone over the weekend.
In a related incident reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations, authorities received a report of a fire aboard a vessel struck by an unknown projectile during the early hours of Sunday morning while transiting the strategic waterway. Earlier in the month, according to Iranian statements, a similar blast killed two Filipino sailors on board a Saudi-owned supertanker. The IRGC claimed the tanker Sder hit a naval mine, while Saudi authorities stated the vessel was targeted directly by Iran. Maritime security firms reported that the ship sustained missile impacts north of Musandam.
Escalating Maritime Incidents and Regional Impact
According to the International Maritime Organization, at least 22 mariners have been killed across 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding Middle Eastern waters since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran in late February. The danger to commercial shipping has effectively choked off a critical global trade corridor.
The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The route remains largely closed due to ongoing Iranian drone and missile strikes against commercial traffic, alongside a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports. Although the United States and Iran reached a preliminary agreement in June to halt hostilities and reopen the passage, the deal collapsed within weeks. Iran resumed its attacks on maritime traffic, prompting Washington to reinstate its blockade.
Pro Tip: Mariners and commercial operators transiting high-risk chokepoints like the Strait of Hormuz rely on real-time updates from agencies such as UKMTO and regional maritime security centers to adjust routing away from contested territorial waters.
Drone Strikes and Unmanned Vessel Seizure Attempts
On Tuesday, the semi-official Iranian news agency Fars reported that hostile drones targeted two fishing boats overnight near the Iranian port of Kargan, located roughly 80 kilometers northeast of Musandam. Citing a deputy governor of Hormozgan province, Fars reported that several local fishermen were missing and search-and-rescue operations were underway.
Shortly after, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that its forces destroyed two boats that attempted to seize an unmanned surface vessel. According to CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins, small Iranian boats tried to capture a U.S. drone but failed after American forces responded with force.
Tehran maintains that it will not relinquish control over the waterway, and Iranian forces have increasingly targeted vessels utilizing a southern route through Omani territorial waters to bypass paths favored by Iran.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Strait of Hormuz closed?
The strait is effectively closed due to ongoing Iranian drone and missile attacks on commercial ships and a U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports.
How much global energy traffic passes through the strait?
Normally, roughly one-fifth of all global oil and gas shipments transit through the Strait of Hormuz.
What happened to the tanker El Gaya?
The Panama-flagged tanker was attacked near the Musandam Peninsula, resulting in a fire in its engine room, the loss of two crew members, and the rescue of 23 others, according to the Oman Maritime Security Centre.