Oman reports two crew members missing and 23 rescued after the Panama‑flagged tanker El Gaia caught fire and was towed to an Omani port following an attack north of the Musandam peninsula. Iran's Revolutionary Guards say the vessel hit naval mines, while the US military alleges missile and drone strikes. The incident follows other recent attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route, and comes amid failed diplomatic efforts to reduce regional tensions.
Two Sailors Missing After Tanker Attack Near Musandam Peninsula, Oman Says
Oman's Maritime Security Centre said a fire broke out in El Gaia's engine room following an attack [Oman Maritime Security Centre]
Oman says two sailors are missing and 23 others have been rescued after an attack on the Panama‑flagged tanker El Gaia while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
The Omani Maritime Security Centre reported that the vessel was being towed to an Omani port on Tuesday after a fire broke out in its engine room. The centre said the attack occurred about 1.3 nautical miles (2.4 km) north of the Musandam peninsula.
Conflicting accounts remain over the cause of the explosion and fire. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the tanker struck naval mines while passing through what it described as a restricted and unsafe route. The US military rejected that version, saying the vessel had been hit by an Iranian missile last month and struck again by a drone over the weekend.
UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a fire on board after the vessel was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Sunday.
Earlier this month a separate incident involving the Saudi‑owned supertanker Sidr killed two Filipino sailors. Iran said Sidr hit a naval mine, while Saudi authorities and maritime security firms reported it had been struck by projectiles north of Musandam.
[BBC]
Regional impact and context
The International Maritime Organization says at least 22 seafarers have been killed in 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in the Middle East since late February. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic choke point through which roughly a fifth of global oil and gas shipments normally pass.
Commercial traffic in the area has been heavily disrupted by a series of missile and drone attacks and countermeasures, including a US naval blockade of some Iranian ports. A preliminary agreement reached in June aimed at reducing tensions and reopening the strait subsequently collapsed after attacks on shipping resumed.
Iran has said it will not cede a measure of control over the waterway, and several attacks have targeted vessels that use a southern route through Omani waters rather than a corridor closer to the Iranian coastline.
What to watch next: investigations by maritime authorities and independent security firms, rescue and salvage operations for El Gaia, and any official confirmations about the cause of the attack from involved governments.
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