Iran attacks shipping navigation systems on Oman's Didamar island near Strait of Hormuz

Iran has launched attacks on ship navigation systems situated on the Omani island of Didamar, located in the Strait of Hormuz, according to three sources familiar with the situation. The strikes demonstrate Iran's capability to target crucial infrastructure necessary for restoring Gulf oil flows. However, Reuters is yet to independently verify if any navigation systems were destroyed in the attacks, which Tehran claimed to have carried out on Tuesday.

Gulf exporters have been employing alternative methods, such as ship-to-ship transfers, to maintain oil flow through the Strait. The US military has been providing support to commercial vessels navigating the Strait following Iranian attacks that disrupted traffic since the US-Israeli war on Iran commenced in late February. Experts suggest that the attacks on Didamar island may have a limited impact on commercial shipping in the Strait, as other systems are in place elsewhere.

Iranian state media reported on Tuesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had struck enemy navigation systems on Didamar island, claiming to have destroyed the systems. However, Reuters was able to confirm smoke rising from the island through video footage, though it remains unclear what exactly was burning. A Copernicus image from the European Union satellite program also indicated thermal activity at the site.

These attacks occur as Gulf oil exports have rebounded to over 80% of pre-war levels in September and October, thanks to US military-assisted flows through the Strait and increased Saudi exports via the Red Sea port of Yanbu. The US Central Command and Oman's media ministry have not yet responded to inquiries for comment. Larger tankers, primarily Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs), transport oil from Gulf ports to ship-to-ship transfer locations near Oman's Sohar and the UAE's Fujairah.