Strait of Hormuz: Satellite images show potential oil spill after US tanker strikes

Strait of Hormuz oil spill satellite imagery environmental pollution tanker destruction

Satellite imagery from the Copernicus service has revealed significant hydrocarbon pollution in the Strait of Hormuz, located approximately 20 kilometers from the Iranian coast. Experts and environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, report that the visible area of the oil slick doubled in size within a single day, growing from roughly 200 square kilometers on September 9 to approximately 400 square kilometers on September 10.

The pollution follows US military strikes on September 8 against five oil tankers that Washington claims were linked to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The slicks appear to originate near the last known positions of the tankers Riesco and Kylo before they were lost. The Riesco, a 240-meter vessel, reportedly sank following a fire.

The affected area is considered environmentally sensitive, containing coral reefs and Ramsar-listed wetlands. While experts suggest strong indications of hydrocarbon pollution based on the morphology and dispersion of the slicks, officials note that satellite images alone cannot definitively confirm the exact composition or origin of the substances.

Entities

Copernicus · Greenpeace · Iran · Kylo · Revolutionary Guard · Riesco · Strait of Hormuz · United States

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 2 SOURCES] Commercial ship transits through the Strait of Hormuz dropped to 7 on Thursday. www.insider.gr · www.mononews.gr
[● 8 SOURCES] Copernicus satellite imagery shows brown and dark traces on the sea surface near the Strait of Hormuz. www.energygame.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.insider.gr · www.reader.gr · www.capital.gr · +3 more
[● 7 SOURCES] The potential pollution is located in an environmentally sensitive area containing coral reefs and Ramsar-listed wetlands. www.energygame.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.reader.gr · www.capital.gr · www.enikos.gr · +2 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Of the seven ships transiting the strait, two entered and five exited. www.insider.gr · www.mononews.gr
[● 8 SOURCES] The United States claims the targeted oil tankers were connected to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. www.energygame.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.insider.gr · www.reader.gr · www.capital.gr · +3 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Experts suggest there are strong indications of hydrocarbon pollution likely originating from vessels. www.energygame.gr · www.tromaktiko.gr · www.reader.gr · www.capital.gr · www.enikos.gr · +3 more
[○ 1 SOURCE] The US military announced the destruction of five oil tankers on September 8. www.tromaktiko.gr
[● 3 SOURCES] The oil slicks appear to originate near the last known positions of the tankers Riesco and Kylo before they sank. www.tromaktiko.gr · www.cash.ch · www.finanzen.at
[● 2 SOURCES] An oil slick is spreading in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Greenpeace. www.cash.ch · www.finanzen.at
[● 2 SOURCES] The US military reported attacking the Riesco and other tankers associated with Iran. www.cash.ch · www.finanzen.at
[● 2 SOURCES] No signal has been received from the Riesco since it was last located near the source of the pollution. www.cash.ch · www.finanzen.at
[● 2 SOURCES] The oil leak likely began on the night of September 8. www.cash.ch · www.finanzen.at