Iran starts ‘indiscriminate’ strikes across Gulf of Oman, hits shadow tanker tied to regime

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Iran is conducting “indiscriminate” targeting of vessels across the Gulf of Oman and the wider Persian Gulf following the launch of U.S.-Israeli strikes under Operation Epic Fury, according to a maritime intelligence firm.

Windward AInoted the sanctioned Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was hit as the conflict across the Middle East entered its second day, with the tanker also holding Iranian nationals among the crew and ties to the regime.

“Analysis of vessel affiliations, targeting patterns, and cargo data points to a strategy of indiscriminate area denial — not precision targeting — aimed at demonstrating Iran’s capability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial shipping,” the firm said Monday.

Gulf of Oman tanker attacks escalate as Iran retaliates against Operation Epic Fury with missiles targeting U.S.allies, disrupting commercial traffic through choke point.(Reuters)

Iran has beenretaliating with missiles and dronestargeting U.S.and allied positions across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.

Maritime traffic through theStrait of Hormuz,which links the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf, is the world’s most critical energy chokepoint.

While three other vessels were reported attacked since the hostilities escalated Feb.28, Windward described Skylight as “the highest-risk vessel in the group and the most anomalous target.”

TheUKMTOOperation Centre 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 had been sanctioned by the U.S.Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in December 2025, and was used to transport Iranian petroleum products, according to reports.

It was operated by United Arab Emirates-based Red Sea Ship Management LLC, which Windward noted has documented ties to front companies linked to Iran’s Ministry of Defense.

The vessel had been at anchor since Feb.22 and carried 20 crew members — 15 Indians and five Iranians.

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A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supply, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman.

“The Skylight anomaly — striking a vessel with an Iranian crew, Iranian operational ties, and active OFAC sanctions — is the single strongest piece of evidence against deliberate targeting by affiliation,” Windward said.

Reutersalso reported March 1 that the Palau-flagged tanker was hit off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula in the Gulf of Oman, injuring four.

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Oman’s Maritime Security Center said in a post on X thatSkylight was attackedabout 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port, caught fire and was evacuated.