Tanker Attacks Near Khasab Escalate Amid US-Iran Strikes

A series of projectile attacks targeted oil tankers near Khasab, Oman, between August 25 and August 31, 2026. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile on August 29 while traveling inbound toward the Arabian Gulf. This followed a similar strike on August 25 that caused a fire on a vessel in the same area.

Intensity escalated on August 31, when a tanker completing an outbound transit of the Strait of Hormuz was hit by three unknown projectiles 17 nautical miles east of Khasab. While no casualties or environmental damage were reported in the August 29 or 31 incidents, analysts noted a shift in tactics, as previous attacks in the corridor typically involved single projectiles and targeted inbound traffic.

The maritime instability coincides with a direct military exchange over the weekend. The United States struck Iranian rocket launchers on Larak Island, prompting Iran to launch retaliatory strikes against US bases in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates. Arsenio Dominguez of the International Maritime Organization stated that at least 70 attacks have targeted vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in the six months following the start of US-Israeli military operations against Iran, resulting in 19 seafarer deaths. The ongoing volatility has pushed Brent crude prices above 90 dollars and WTI above 86 dollars per barrel.