Two sailors missing after tanker attack in Strait of Hormuz

Iranian authorities reported that the oil tanker El Gaia caught fire after striking naval mines in the Gulf of Oman, saying the vessel was severely damaged and crew members were evacuated. The incident, which occurred on Thursday, involved a ship carrying crude oil en route from the Persian Gulf to Asia, and Iranian officials warned that the mines were part of a broader threat to commercial navigation in the region.

U.S. officials, however, offered a different account, stating that the El Gaia was first hit by a missile and subsequently struck by a drone, leading to the blaze and the subsequent fire‑fighting response. Both governments have called for investigations, and the divergent narratives underscore ongoing tensions over maritime security in the strategic waterway. No casualties have been confirmed, and the vessel’s status remains under assessment as authorities work to determine the cause of the attack.