An oil tanker carrying 15 Indian crew members was struck off the coast of Oman on Sunday, injuring four people, as tensions between Israel and Iran continued to escalate across the region, according to a Reuters report.
The Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was hit near Oman’s Musandam peninsula, marking what authorities described as the first instance of a target in or near Oman being struck during the current round of hostilities. The vessel is under US sanctions, the report noted.
Oman’s Maritime Security Centre said the attack took place about five nautical miles north of Khasab Port in Musandam, after which the tanker’s 20-member crew was evacuated. Officials did not specify the type of weapon used. Initial reports indicated that four crew members sustained injuries of varying severity. The crew included 15 Indian nationals and five Iranian citizens.
Russian broadcaster RT shared a video purportedly showing the damaged tanker, though its authenticity could not be independently verified.
According to Reuters, the tanker is registered to Sea Force Inc and managed by Red Sea Ship Management LLC. The US sanctioned both the company and the Skylight in December 2025, alleging involvement in operating a “shadow fleet” used to transport Iranian petroleum products in the Gulf.
Ship-tracking service TankerTrackers.com described the Skylight as a small tanker primarily used for refuelling other vessels and said it had been anchored in Musandam governorate since February 22.
An Iranian broadcaster reported that Oman announced an oil tanker flying the Palau flag and attempting to transit the Strait of Hormuz had been targeted five miles from Oman. It also stated that Iran had declared the closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has disrupted shipping through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, the narrow passage between Iran and Oman linking the Gulf to the Arabian Sea. On an average day, tankers carrying roughly 20% of global oil consumption pass through the strait, transporting crude from major producers including Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar.
The tanker strike is part of a wider escalation following joint US-Israeli attacks on Iran that have pushed the region into a more volatile phase. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
Musandam holds strategic importance as it shares oversight of the Strait of Hormuz with Iran, making it a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies.
Earlier on Sunday, Oman’s state news agency reported that Duqm commercial port was struck by two drones, injuring one expatriate worker. Authorities said debris from another drone landed near fuel storage tanks, though no casualties or material damage were reported in that case.
The tanker incident comes amid heightened regional conflict after US-Israeli strikes on Iran. An explosion shook central Tehran on Sunday as Israel said it was targeting key locations in the capital. Iran responded by launching missiles and drones at Israel and several Gulf countries following the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian leaders said the attack would not go unanswered, while US President Donald Trump warned Tehran against further retaliation, stating that any additional action would be met with overwhelming force.
The escalating conflict has begun affecting regional security and aviation, with air defence activity reported across parts of the Gulf. Strikes and interceptions have taken place in Israel and multiple Arab states, raising concerns about the possibility of a broader regional war.
