March 1, 2026

At least three tankers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, one catches fire

The Omani Centre for Maritime Security reported that the oil tanker Skylight, flying the flag of Palau, was attacked near the Musandam Peninsula. Four people were injured, and the entire crew of 20 was evacuated. The tanker came under fire in Omani territorial waters. US authorities believe Skylight is a vessel from Iran's shadow fleet. It soon became known that the oil tanker MKD Vyom, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was damaged in the strait. British authorities report that another vessel, unnamed, was hit off the coast of Oman. At least 150 tankers, including oil carriers, have anchored in the open waters of the Persian Gulf beyond the Strait of Hormuz, with dozens more on the other side in the Arabian Sea, Reuters reported, citing data from the vessel tracking platform MarineTraffic. The Strait of Hormuz is the world's most important oil export route, connecting major oil producers in the Persian Gulf (Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE) with the Arabian Sea. Iran announced a blockade of the strait the day before. Information about its lifting was received today.