Archive · 15 Sep 2026
US Says Iran Struck El Gaia Tanker Twice Near Oman
The tanker El Gaia was carrying 14 Indian crew members.
The United States says Iran attacked the ship twice.
It says an Iranian missile hit the tanker last month and made it unable to move.
The United States says an Iranian drone struck it again over the weekend.
The second reported strike happened off the coast of Oman.
Iran’s state media reported a different explanation.
It said the ship hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.
The United States called that explanation false.
Thirteen crew members were rescued, while one remains missing.
US Central Command said Iran attacked the Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia twice.
CENTCOM said an Iranian missile struck and disabled the tanker last month.
It said Iran struck the vessel again with a drone over the weekend off Oman.
Iranian state media, citing the IRGC, reported that El Gaia hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.
Thirteen of the 14 Indian crew members were rescued, while one remains missing and search operations continue.
- Who
- The Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia, its 14 Indian crew members, the United States military, and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
- What
- The United States said Iran struck El Gaia with a missile and later a drone, while Iranian state media reported that the tanker hit a naval mine.
- When
- The alleged missile strike occurred last month, the drone strike occurred over the weekend, and the competing statements were issued on Monday.
- Where
- The reported drone strike occurred off Oman; the alleged naval-mine incident was reported in the Strait of Hormuz.
- Why
- CENTCOM said Iran’s mine explanation was an intimidation attempt intended to impede commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
United States Account
Iranian Account
Cause of the damage
United States Account
US Central Command said El Gaia was struck by an Iranian missile last month and then by an Iranian drone over the weekend.
Iranian Account
Iranian state media outlet Fars News Agency, citing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that El Gaia hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz.
Interpretation of the incident
United States Account
CENTCOM called the mine account false and described it as an intimidation attempt aimed at impeding commercial shipping.
Iranian Account
The IRGC-linked account attributed the explosion and fire onboard to the tanker’s collision with a naval mine.
- Vessel
- El Gaia
- Flag
- Panama
- Crew
- 14 Indian nationals
- Crew status
- 13 rescued; one missing
- US account
- An Iranian missile struck the tanker last month, followed by a drone strike over the weekend
- Iranian account
- The tanker hit a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz, causing an explosion and fire
- Current status
- The tanker was being towed by a regional partner
