Persian Gulf faces rising oil pollution amid Middle East conflict

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is causing significant environmental damage to the Persian Gulf. Military strikes on oil facilities and vessels have released heavy metals, harmful chemicals, and thick smoke into the atmosphere, while attacks on shipping infrastructure have resulted in oil spills visible from space.

In the United Arab Emirates, a tanker spill has led to the temporary closure of beaches in the Emirate of Umm Al Quwain. While authorities are working to contain the impact, it remains unconfirmed if the spill is directly linked to Iranian attacks.

Satellite oceanographers from the University of South Florida report a sharp increase in surface oil in the Persian Gulf. Research comparing intense fighting periods shows that the amount of surface oil in the region has doubled compared to the previous year, with pollution plumes stretching hundreds of kilometers from impact sites in the Strait of Hormuz.