Iran is carrying out “indiscriminate” targeting of ships in the Gulf of Oman and the wider Persian Gulf following the launch of US-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury, according to a maritime intelligence agency.
Windward AI noted that the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was hit as the conflict in the Middle East entered its second day, with the tanker also crewing Iranian nationals and having ties to the regime.
“Analysis of shipping connections, targeting patterns and cargo data indicates a strategy of indiscriminate area denial – not precision targeting – aimed at demonstrating Iran’s ability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial shipping,” the company said on Monday.
Attacks on tankers in the Gulf of Oman are escalating as Iran retaliates for Operation Epic Fury with missiles aimed at US allies, disrupting commercial traffic through a chokepoint. (Reuters)
Iran has retaliated with missiles and drones targeting US and allied positions across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf, is the world’s most critical energy bottleneck.
While three other ships were reportedly attacked since hostilities escalated on February 28, Windward described Skylight as “the highest-risk ship in the group and the most anomalous target.”
The UKMTO Operation Center also later confirmed attacks on Skylight, MKD Vyom and Hercules Star, warning of significant military activity across the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the North Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Skylight was approved by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in December 2025 and was reportedly used to transport Iranian petroleum products.
It was managed by United Arab Emirates-based Red Sea Ship Management LLC, which Windward noted has documented ties to front companies linked to Iran’s Defense Ministry.
The ship had been anchored since February 22 and had twenty crew members on board: fifteen Indians and five Iranians.
DUBAI HOTEL FIRE APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY Iranian STRIKE; INJURIES REPORTED
“The Skylight anomaly – attacking a ship with an Iranian crew, Iranian operational ties and active OFAC sanctions – is the strongest evidence against deliberate targeting by ties,” Windward said.
Reuters also reported on March 1 that the Palau-flagged tanker was hit off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula in the Gulf of Oman, leaving four injured.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Oman’s Maritime Security Center said in a message on X that Skylight was attacked about 5 nautical miles north of Khasab port, caught fire and was evacuated.
Related article
