Oman Evacuates Injured Crew After Tanker Strike in Strait of Hormuz as Maritime Security Falters

Oman's air force carried out a medical evacuation of ten injured crew members from a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker on Wednesday, after the vessel was struck by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Omani Ministry of Defence. The tanker, identified as the On Peace, was hit approximately nine nautical miles, or roughly seventeen kilometers, off the coast of Limah, an Omani port city, the ministry confirmed. The impact ignited a fire aboard the vessel, prompting an urgent response from Omani authorities.

In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Omani Ministry of Defence said the evacuated crew members were taken to Khasab Hospital in the Musandam governorate, where they received medical treatment. The ministry did not provide details on the severity of the injuries or the current condition of those hospitalized. As of Wednesday, no organization or armed group had claimed responsibility for the attack, leaving the circumstances surrounding the strike unresolved.

India's Ministry of External Affairs offered additional details on the scale of the casualties, reporting that at least twelve of the ship's nineteen crew members were injured when the projectile struck the vessel as it transited the strategic waterway. The ministry noted that seventeen of the nineteen crew members on board were Indian nationals, and that eleven of the twelve injured were Indian citizens. The discrepancy between the Omani figure of ten evacuees and India's tally of twelve injured may reflect evolving assessments or differing definitions of injury severity.

"The continuing incidents of attacks on shipping in the region remain a cause of deep concern for India," the Ministry of External Affairs said in its statement. "We reiterate our call for an immediate cessation of such attacks in the interests of peace and stability in the region." The appeal underscores New Delhi's growing anxiety over the safety of its seafarers, who form a significant portion of the global merchant marine workforce.

India is among the largest suppliers of sailors to international merchant shipping, and the human toll of the ongoing maritime insecurity has been substantial. The Indian government disclosed in July that at least ten Indian seafarers had lost their lives since the US-Israel war on Iran commenced in late February. A separate attack on a cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz in September also claimed the life of an Indian sailor, according to official accounts. These cumulative losses have heightened calls within India for enhanced protective measures for its maritime workers.

The attack on the On Peace is the latest in a series of incidents that have eroded security in the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil passes. Iran effectively closed the waterway after the US-Israel war began on February 28, and has repeatedly targeted commercial vessels that deviate from its designated route through the strait. Tehran has also signaled its intention to charge ships for passage, a move that has been widely interpreted as an attempt to assert sovereignty over the waterway and extract economic leverage amid the conflict.

According to Marisks, a shipping intelligence service, at least seven other incidents involving tankers have been reported in the past week alone, illustrating the frequency with which commercial shipping is now coming under threat. The attacks have created a perilous environment for crews, insurers, and shipowners, many of whom are weighing the risks of continuing to operate in the region against the economic imperatives of global energy trade.

Despite the persistent violence, oil exports from the Middle East have rebounded to pre-war levels in recent weeks, according to provisional data from Kpler, a commodity data firm. The seven-day moving average of Middle East crude exports reached 18.3 million barrels per day on September 30, compared with an average of approximately 18 million barrels per day over the twelve months preceding the war. The resilience of export volumes suggests that producers and shippers have adapted, at least partially, to the heightened security risks, though the human and financial costs remain considerable.

Oil prices, however, continue to reflect the underlying instability. Brent crude futures climbed to $101.51 a barrel on Tuesday, a sharp increase from $72.48 on the day before the war began. The elevated price point signals that markets are pricing in a sustained risk premium tied to the conflict and the vulnerability of the Strait of Hormuz, even as physical supply flows have largely recovered. Analysts caution that any further escalation—such as a direct strike on a major tanker or a prolonged closure of the strait—could send prices sharply higher and disrupt global energy markets.

The evacuation operation by Oman's air force highlights the critical role that regional states play in responding to maritime emergencies, even as they navigate complex diplomatic positions amid the broader conflict. Oman has historically acted as a mediator in regional disputes and maintains relatively open channels with both Iran and Western powers, positioning it as a logistical hub for emergency responses in the Gulf. The transfer of injured crew to Khasab Hospital, located in the Musandam exclave that overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, underscores the geographic proximity of the crisis to Omani territory.

For India, the incident is likely to intensify diplomatic pressure on Tehran and its adversaries to ensure the safety of commercial shipping. Indian officials have consistently emphasized the importance of freedom of navigation and the protection of civilian mariners, who are often nationals of developing countries with limited recourse to political protection. The presence of seventeen Indian crew members on a single Panamanian-flagged vessel illustrates the globalized nature of the shipping industry and the disproportionate exposure of South Asian labor to geopolitical flashpoints.

The absence of any claim of responsibility for the On Peace attack adds to the uncertainty surrounding the incident. While Iran has been accused of targeting vessels in the past, other actors—including non-state militant groups and unknown parties—could be involved. The lack of attribution complicates efforts to assign accountability and may hinder the development of a coordinated international response. It also raises questions about the adequacy of existing maritime security mechanisms in the Gulf, which have struggled to prevent repeated attacks despite the presence of international naval coalitions.

As the war between the US, Israel, and Iran continues with no clear end in sight, the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of both military and economic tension. The repeated targeting of commercial vessels not only endangers lives but also threatens to disrupt a vital artery of global trade. For now, the international community's response has been limited to condemnations and calls for restraint, while shipowners and crews face the daily reality of navigating one of the world's most dangerous maritime corridors.