Strait of Hormuz tanker attack leaves two sailors missing

Two sailors are reported missing and 23 crew members have been rescued following an attack on the Panama-flagged oil tanker ‘El Gaia’ in the Strait of Hormuz. Omani authorities confirmed that a fire broke out in the ship's engine room after the incident, which occurred approximately 2.4 kilometers north of the Musandam Peninsula. The vessel is currently being towed to an Omani port.

Conflicting accounts regarding the cause of the attack persist. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard claimed the tanker struck a sea mine while navigating an unsafe route. However, the United States military has dismissed these claims as false, stating the vessel was hit by an Iranian missile last month and targeted by a drone over the weekend. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also reported a fire on a vessel struck by unknown weaponry.

This incident follows a similar attack earlier this month on the Saudi supertanker ‘Sidr’, which resulted in the deaths of two Filipino sailors. According to the International Maritime Organization, there have been at least 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the broader Middle East region since late February, resulting in at least 22 sailor fatalities. The strait, a vital corridor for approximately one-fifth of global oil and gas, is facing significant disruption due to attacks on commercial shipping.