Gulf of Oman sees indiscriminate Iran targeting after US-Israeli strikes
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Iran is “indiscriminately” targeting ships along the Gulf of Oman and the wider Persian Gulf following attacks launched as part of US-Israeli Operation Epic Rage, according to a maritime intelligence firm.
Downwind Artificial Intelligence The official noted that the sanctioned Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was hit as the conflict in the Middle East entered its second day, and that the tanker’s crew included Iranian nationals and had ties to the regime.
“Analysis of ship affiliations, targeting patterns and cargo data points to a strategy of indiscriminate area denial, not precision targeting, aimed at demonstrating Iran’s ability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial shipping,” the firm said in a statement Monday. he said.
Tanker attacks in the Gulf of Oman are on the rise as Iran retaliates against Operation Epic Fury with missiles targeting US allies, disrupting commercial traffic through gridlock. (Reuters)
Iran is retaliating with missiles and drones targeting US and allied positions in the region, including Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Maritime traffic passing through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf, is the world’s most critical energy transit point.
While three more ships have reportedly been attacked since hostilities escalated on February 28, Windward described Skylight as “the highest risk ship in the group and the most anomalous target.”
UKMTO The Operations Center also later confirmed attacks on Skylight, MKD Vyom and Hercules Star and warned of significant military activities in the Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, Northern Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
According to reports, Skylight was approved by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in December 2025 and was used to transport Iranian oil products.
It was operated by Red Sea Ship Management LLC, based in the United Arab Emirates, and Windward documented that it had ties to front companies affiliated with the Iranian Ministry of Defense.
The ship had been at anchor since February 22 and was carrying 20 crew members, including 15 Indians and 5 Iranians.
THE DUBAI HOTEL FIRE SEEMS TO BE STARTED BY THE IRANIAN ATTACK; INJURIES HAVE BEEN REPORTED
Satellite image of the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman, a critical chokepoint for global energy supplies. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
“The Skylight anomaly – an attack on a ship manned by Iranian crew, Iran’s operational ties, and active OFAC sanctions – is the single strongest evidence against intentional targeting by linkage,” Windward said.
Reuters also reported that on March 1, a Palau-flagged tanker was hit off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula in the Gulf of Oman, injuring four people.
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The Oman Maritime Security Center said in a post on channel X that the Skylight was attacked, caught fire and evacuated approximately 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port.
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