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Environment & Climate

Greenpeace counts over 500 oil spills across Gulf since February war

The Guardian reports Greenpeace has identified over 500 oil spills since the war began, including ones from tanker strikes.

Published Nov 12, 2026 · 13:57 UTC1 reports

The short version

  • Greenpeace has identified more than 500 oil spills by satellite monitoring since the war began on 28 February.[The Guardian]
  • Tankers were struck by missiles or sea mines in October and spilled crude, with one supertanker strike leaving a slick over 35km.[The Guardian]
  • Greenpeace counts more than 133 attacks on oil tankers since the conflict began, and the Washington Institute for Near East Policy says October was the worst month.[The Guardian]
  • The largest spill is reportedly caused by a UAE air force strike on Lavan Island storage tanks, according to a Wall Street Journal report.[The Guardian]

Key facts

  • Greenpeace has identified more than 500 oil spills through satellite monitoring since the war began on 28 February.[The Guardian]
  • More than 133 attacks on oil tankers have occurred since the conflict began, according to Greenpeace.[The Guardian]
  • October was the worst month, with more than 30 confirmed or reported attacks, according to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.[The Guardian]
  • A strike on the supertanker Gem No 2 off the coast of the United Arab Emirates left a slick stretching more than 35km.[The Guardian]
  • Greenpeace estimates that an early June tanker attack produced an off-Oman slick covering more than 600 sq km at its peak.[The Guardian]
  • Wim Zwijnenburg of the Dutch peace organisation Pax says two Iranian naval vessels hit in March continued leaking oil for months.[The Guardian]

What remains uncertain

  • Responsibility for the largest spill rests on a Wall Street Journal report and is not independently confirmed in this reporting.[The Guardian]
  • Spill and attack totals come from Greenpeace and the Washington Institute, and the full environmental impact of the spills is not yet known.[The Guardian]

Sources

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