Oman has reported that two sailors are missing following an attack on the oil tanker El Gaia in the strategic Strait of Hormuz. The Gulf state said the incident left the vessel damaged and that search and rescue efforts were under way, but it did not provide further details on the condition or nationality of the crew.
Conflicting accounts
Iran offered a different explanation, saying El Gaia caught fire after hitting mines. Tehran’s account frames the incident as an accidental encounter with explosive devices rather than a deliberate strike.
The United States, by contrast, has said its assessment indicates the tanker was struck first by a missile and subsequently by a drone. The US description points to a coordinated attack sequence, a conclusion that differs sharply from Iran’s version of events.
The competing narratives have not been reconciled and details remain limited. The Strait of Hormuz is a crucial maritime chokepoint for global energy shipments, and any violence in the waterway tends to draw immediate international concern because of the potential implications for shipping and regional stability.
Authorities and international actors are likely to seek further information as investigations proceed, but for now the basic facts — an attack on El Gaia, two crew reported missing, and divergent explanations from Iran and the US — remain the central elements of the incident.