Attacks on tankers in Strait of Hormuz escalate environmental and maritime concerns

The short version

• On September 8, the United States struck five Iranian tankers, which prompted an Iranian strike against Jordan's Al-Azraq airbase.[Al Jazeera]
• Since hostilities began, attacks have hit at least 75 vessels and killed at least 21 seafarers.[Al Jazeera]
• Tracking data from September 7 recorded 42 tankers waiting near the Strait of Hormuz, 18 of which were transporting oil.[Al Jazeera]
• A June university study found that Gulf and strait oil spills in March were four times higher than the previous year.[Al Jazeera]

Key facts

• The US hit five Iranian tankers on September 8, prompting an Iranian retaliatory attack on Jordan's Al-Azraq airbase.[Al Jazeera]
• At least 75 ships have faced attacks and at least 21 seafarers have died since the start of the conflict.[Al Jazeera]
• As of September 7, MarineTraffic recorded 42 tankers waiting to transit the Strait of Hormuz, 18 of which were laden with oil.[Al Jazeera]
• Reuters estimated that the grounded tanker Caroline Bezengi was transporting 800,000 barrels of oil.[Al Jazeera]
• A University of South Florida study found that March satellite imagery recorded four times as much spilled oil in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz compared to the prior year.[Al Jazeera]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.

• Why US-Iran war over Hormuz is threatening the Gulf’s watersAl Jazeera