Two sailors are missing following an attack on the oil tanker El Gaia in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman. Iran and the US have offered conflicting accounts of what caused the incident.
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Key facts
- Two sailors are missing after an attack on a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman.
- The vessel involved is the oil tanker El Gaia.
- Iran says the tanker caught fire after hitting mines.
- The US says the tanker was struck by a missile and then a drone.
Two sailors are missing after an oil tanker was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Oman. The vessel, identified as the El Gaia, was left damaged following the incident in one of the world’s most important shipping lanes.
Accounts of what caused the attack differ sharply. Iran says the El Gaia caught fire after hitting mines, according to the BBC. The United States, however, says the tanker was struck by a missile and then a drone.
The conflicting explanations underline the uncertainty surrounding the incident, with no single agreed account of how the tanker came to be damaged or who was responsible.
The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that serves as a critical route for global oil shipments, making any disruption there a matter of international concern.
As of the latest reporting from the BBC, two sailors remained unaccounted for. Further details about the crew, the extent of the damage and the circumstances of the attack had not been confirmed.
Why it matters
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most vital shipping routes for oil, and attacks on vessels there can raise tensions and rattle energy markets. Conflicting accounts from Iran and the US add uncertainty to an already volatile region.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to the tanker El Gaia?
According to Oman, the oil tanker El Gaia was attacked in the Strait of Hormuz, leaving two sailors missing.
How do Iran and the US explain the attack?
Iran says the tanker caught fire after hitting mines, while the US says it was struck by a missile and then a drone, according to the BBC.
How many people are missing?
Oman says two sailors are missing following the attack.
Timeline
- Two sailors missing after tanker attacked in Strait of Hormuz, Oman says
BBC World: Iran says El Gaia caught fire after hitting mines, but the US says the oil tanker was struck by a missile and then a drone.