# Maritime attacks in the Strait of Hormuz

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20260916-maritime-attacks-in-the-strait-of-hormuz
> Updated: 2026-09-16T04:24:15.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2.

The Panama-flagged oil tanker ‘El Gaia’ was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in an engine room fire near the Musandam Peninsula. While 23 crew members were rescued by Omani authorities, two sailors remain missing. The crew was primarily composed of Indian nationals, with India’s Ministry of External Affairs confirming the rescue of 13 of its 14 citizens on board, though one Indian national remains unaccounted for.

Conflicting reports persist regarding the cause of the incident. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy maintains that the vessel struck a naval mine after attempting illegal passage, asserting that the Strait of Hormuz is currently under their control and closed to certain vessels. Conversely, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) stated the tanker was hit by an Iranian missile last month, rendering it inoperable, and was subsequently targeted by an Iranian drone over the weekend. CENTCOM has explicitly denied the Iranian claims regarding the naval mine.

This attack follows a previous incident involving the Saudi supertanker ‘Sidr’ and contributes to a broader pattern of maritime instability in the region. According to the International Maritime Organization, there have been at least 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East since late February, resulting in at least 22 sailor fatalities.

## Claims

- The El Gaia tanker struck a naval mine and exploded while attempting to transit a restricted zone south of the Strait of Hormuz. (disputed by 3 sources)
- The Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia was struck by an Iranian missile last month and then hit again by an Iranian drone over the weekend. (disputed by 2 sources)
- The claim that the tanker struck a naval mine is false. (disputed)
- Of the 14 Indian nationals aboard the vessel, 13 were rescued and one remains missing. (disputed)
- A Royal Navy of Oman vessel rescued 23 crew members from the vessel. (disputed)
- The IRGC claims the Strait of Hormuz is closed and under the control of Iranian naval forces. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The El Gaia caught fire in its engine room approximately 103 nautical miles northeast of Musandam, Oman. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-09-16: Strait of Hormuz tanker attack sparks US-Iran dispute

The U.S. and Iran are disputing the cause of an attack on the Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia in the Strait of Hormuz, with CENTCOM alleging drone strikes and Iran claiming a naval mine explosion.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/el-gaia-oil-tanker-attacked-in-strait-of-hormuz

### 2026-09-15: Strait of Hormuz tanker attack leaves two sailors missing

Two sailors are missing and 23 rescued after an attack on the Panama-flagged tanker ‘El Gaia’ in the Strait of Hormuz, amid conflicting reports of missile strikes and sea mines.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/strait-of-hormuz-tanker-attack-leaves-two-sailors-missing

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Cite as: Maritime attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20260916-maritime-attacks-in-the-strait-of-hormuz