Tanker attacks in the Strait of Hormuz are spilling oil into the Persian Gulf
As war disrupts one of the world's busiest shipping lanes, satellite images reveal oil spreading toward protected coral reefs and mangrove forests.
Dark patches on satellite images of the Strait of Hormuz indicate possible oil leaks into the Persian Gulf. Experts attribute these findings to an environmental crisis during the ongoing US-Iran conflict, with tankers facing missile attacks, fires, or sinking. In June, a Russian tanker carrying 800,000 barrels of oil ran aground off Oman, causing a major spill.
Currently, 13 out of 85 large oil-laden tankers remain stranded in the Strait, each presenting an attack risk and potential spill. Greenpeace, using satellite imagery to track spills, estimates over 100 oil leaks since the war began, though many remain undocumented due to GPS spoofing and limited on-the-ground reports. Recent satellite images reveal five major oil slicks covering 240 square kilometers (93 square miles), down from an initial 80 square kilometers.
These slicks near protected areas like Oman's Musandam National Park and Iran's Minab River Delta pose severe threats to ecosystems and human health. Oil harms sea birds, mangroves, and coastal communities, with desalination plants in Kuwait, Oman, and Saudi Arabia relying on clean water for drinking. Environmentalists argue the war underscores the need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, as continued oil dependency creates ongoing environmental risks.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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