Two sailors missing after tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz, Oman

Oman's Maritime Security Centre shared a fire broke out in El Gaia's engine room following an attack on the Panama-flagged tanker. The vessel was being towed to an Omani port on Tuesday after the incident.

Two sailors missing Developments and Official Response

The attack happened 1.3 nautical miles (2.4km) north of the Musandam peninsula. There, Iran's Revolutionary Guards said the tanker hit naval mines and caught fire. However, the US military insisted the Iranian report was false.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass, has effectively been closed due to Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports. At least 22 seafarers have been killed in 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the rest of the Middle East since the start of the US and Israel's war with Iran at the end of February.

International Maritime Organization Says Strait

The International Maritime Organization says the strait has been closed due to Iranian attacks. Which have targeted vessels using a southern route through Omani waters that avoids its preferred route through Iranian waters. Iran has insisted it will not give up some measure of control over the waterway and has warned of "faster, heavier, more painful response" to US attacks.

Earlier this month, Iran made a similar claim about an incident that killed two Filipino sailors on a Saudi-owned oil supertanker in the vital waterway. The Revolutionary Guards shared the vessel, Sidr, caught fire after hitting a naval mine. However, Saudi authorities shared it was targeted.

The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait in June. However, it fainted within weeks after the Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.

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Oman's Maritime Security Centre shared the attack was and promised to take all necessary measures to ensure maritime security. The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre also condemned the attack. Saying it had received a report of a fire breaking out on board a vessel that was struck.

The US military released a statement denying Iran's claim. Saying the tanker was struck Saudi Arabia also released a statement condemning the attack. Saying two Filipino sailors were killed when their oil supertanker was targeted.

The fate of the two missing sailors on board El Gaia remains unknown. The vessel is currently being towed to an Omani port for repairs and inquiry into the attack.

The incident highlights the ongoing tensions between Iran and the US. As well as the risks faced The International Maritime Organization has called for increased security measures to protect ships from attacks.

Key Background and Context

Oman's Maritime Security Centre said a fire broke out in El Gaia's engine room following an attack Two sailors are missing and 23 others have been rescued following an attack on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman says. Oman's Maritime Security Centre said the Panama-flagged El Gaia was being towed to an Omani port on Tuesday after a fire broke out in its engine room.

They added that the vessel was targeted 1.3 nautical miles (2.4km) north of the Musandam peninsula. On Monday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards shared the tanker hit naval mines and caught fire while passing through what they described as a restricted and unsafe route. But the US military insisted the Iranian report was false.

It said the tanker was struck The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre. Meanwhile, said it had received a report of a fire breaking out on board a vessel that was struck Earlier this month, Iran made a similar claim about an incident that killed two Filipino sailors on a Saudi-owned oil supertanker in the vital waterway.

The Revolutionary Guards shared the vessel, Sidr, caught fire after hitting a naval mine. But Saudi authorities said it was targeted The International Maritime Organization says at least 22 seafarers have been killed in 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the rest of the Middle East since the start of the US and Israel's war with Iran at the end of February.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass, has effectively been closed due to Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports. The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait in June.

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However, it collapsed within weeks after the Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade. Iran has insisted it will not give up some measure of control over the waterway and has targeted vessels using a southern route through Omani waters that avoids its preferred route through Iranian waters.

Iran warns of 'faster, heavier, more painful response' to US attacks US and Iran trade retaliatory attacks on ships as conflict flares Iranian attack on Saudi tanker killed two Filipino sailors, Saudi Arabia says Two sailors are missing and 23 others have been rescued following an attack on an oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, Oman says. Oman's Maritime Security Centre said the Panama-flagged El Gaia was being towed to an Omani port on Tuesday after a fire broke out in its engine room.

They added that the vessel was targeted 1.3 nautical miles (2.4km) north of the Musandam peninsula. On Monday, Iran's Revolutionary Guards shared the tanker hit naval mines and caught fire while passing through what they described as a restricted and unsafe route. But the US military insisted the Iranian report was false.

It said the tanker was struck The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre. Meanwhile, said it had received a report of a fire breaking out on board a vessel that was struck Earlier this month, Iran made a similar claim about an incident that killed two Filipino sailors on a Saudi-owned oil supertanker in the vital waterway.

The Revolutionary Guards shared the vessel, Sidr, caught fire after hitting a naval mine. But Saudi authorities said it was targeted The International Maritime Organization says at least 22 seafarers have been killed in 79 confirmed incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and the rest of the Middle East since the start of the US and Israel's war with Iran at the end of February.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass, has effectively been closed due to Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and a US naval blockade of Iranian ports. The US and Iran reached a preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait in June.

However, it collapsed within weeks after the Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade. Iran has insisted it will not give up some measure of control over the waterway and has targeted vessels using a southern route through Omani waters that avoids its preferred route through Iranian waters.

Iran warns of 'faster, heavier, more painful response' to US attacks US and Iran trade retaliatory attacks on ships as conflict flares Iranian attack on Saudi tanker killed two Filipino sailors, Saudi Arabia says.