Product Tanker El Gaia Struck Twice, Two Crew Missing as Vessel Towed to Port

The Panama-flagged product tanker El Gaia was struck for a second time in the Strait of Hormuz on approximately September 13–14 while drifting off the Omani coast following an initial Iranian missile strike in August that left the vessel inoperable. CENTCOM confirmed the IRGC struck the drifting vessel again with a drone. Iran claimed the vessel had hit a naval mine; CENTCOM rejected that account as false.

The Royal Navy of Oman evacuated 23 crew members and provided medical assistance. As of September 15, the fire aboard El Gaia was under control and the vessel was under tow to port. Two crew members remain missing.