MUSCAT, Oman, March 1, 2026 — A U.S.-sanctioned oil tanker was attacked off the coast of Oman’s Musandam peninsula, injuring four crew members and forcing the evacuation of the vessel, according to the Oman Maritime Security Centre.

The tanker, identified as the Skylight and sailing under the flag of Palau, was struck about five nautical miles north of Khasab Port. Authorities have not yet confirmed the weapon used in the attack, but the incident followed drone strikes on Oman’s Duqm commercial port earlier the same day.

Officials said the crew of 20, including 15 Indian nationals and five Iranian nationals, were safely evacuated. Four of them sustained injuries of varying severity and were transferred for medical treatment. “Initial information indicated injuries of varying severity to four of the crew,” the Oman Maritime Security Centre said in a statement.

The attack marks the first time targets in or near Oman have been hit amid escalating regional tensions. The strikes are widely seen as part of retaliatory actions by Tehran against Gulf states following joint U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, which have plunged the region into a new phase of conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz, near where the incident occurred, is one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes for oil and gas. Recent attacks have already disrupted tanker traffic, with several vessels avoiding transit through the chokepoint due to heightened risks.

Regional authorities are investigating the incident, while maritime security agencies have urged ships to exercise extreme caution in the area. The attack underscores the vulnerability of global energy supplies to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf, raising concerns about further instability in international oil markets.

Image from Daily Excelsior