Drone strike hits tanker anchored off Oman near Hormuz approach
A tanker was struck by a drone near Sohar, Oman, prompting local authorities to evacuate the crew, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations service.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, a tanker anchored off Sohar in Oman was hit by a drone early Monday, leading Omani authorities to begin evacuating the vessel's crew. Details about the severity of the damage and potential ecological consequences have not yet been released. The attack took place near the Gulf of Oman, close to the entrance of the Hormuz Strait, a vital passage for global oil and gas shipments.
While no organization has taken credit, the strike follows a recent Iranian drone assault on a tanker in the Hormuz corridor. Iran has been demanding prior permission for ships to transit the strait, prompting many vessels to use a U.S.-backed southern route. In response to Iran's blockade attempts, the United States has launched a counter-blockade targeting Iranian ports and occasionally engages vessels it links to Tehran.
Why it matters
The attack threatens a critical oil route and could heighten regional maritime tensions.
How this story developed
- Sep 14 US claims Hormuz traffic improving as oil prices surge amid regional attacks
- Sep 21 Fire on the tanker was extinguished after the projectile strike.
- Sep 23 A cargo ship was struck by an unknown projectile, igniting a fire and forcing crew evacuation.
- Sep 24 Saudi Arabia, the UAE and other Gulf producers have rerouted oil through spare pipeline capacity and a U.S.-protected corridor, keeping global supply steady despite higher prices.
- Sep 29 Brent crude rose about 4% to just over $107 a barrel after Donald Trump’s contradictory statements and the US announced the final withdrawal of its forces from Iraq.
- Oct 2 The administration emphasized managing public expectations about a rapid settlement with Iran.
- Oct 3 A second tanker was hit east of Oman, adding to the earlier incident in the strait.
- Oct 5 The G7 announced a release of diesel and crude from emergency reserves.
- Oct 5 A U.S. naval blockade has caused a backlog of hundreds of trucks at the Gürbulak crossing, with waits up to five days.
- Oct 7 The number of reported tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz rose to at least nine this October.
- Oct 8 A tanker north of Qatar was hit by multiple projectiles, causing casualties.
- Oct 11 Iran announced it had attacked a NatWit‑owned tanker for using an unauthorised southern route.
In this story
Related stories
23 in this thread