Throughout October, multiple oil tankers operating in the Strait of Hormuz sustained damage from missile and sea mine attacks, releasing crude oil into the waterway. Satellite imagery and analysis by environmental organizations have documented extensive pollution spreading across the Persian Gulf and surrounding waters, with spillage reaching numerous coastlines and sensitive marine habitats.
Greenpeace has identified more than 500 instances of oil spills across the Gulf region since the conflict began on 28 February, with satellite monitoring indicating a cumulative coverage of approximately 20,000 square kilometers. More than 133 attacks on oil tankers have occurred during the conflict, with October representing the most active month with over 30 confirmed or reported incidents in the strait and adjacent waters. Individual incidents have produced massive slicks, including a strike on the supertanker Gem No 2 that created a slick extending more than 21 miles and an earlier June attack resulting in coverage exceeding 600 square kilometers at its peak.
The Strait of Hormuz hosts shallow, environmentally fragile waters containing coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows that support diverse marine life and serve as migration corridors for marine mammals. Environmental experts note that oil contamination poses severe threats to these ecosystems, coating marine organisms, suffocating plant roots, and intensifying stress from existing pressures including climate change. The shallow waters and limited circulation patterns characteristic of the Gulf amplify vulnerability to pollution, with researchers warning of potential long-term ecological damage.
Oil pollution has reached multiple protected areas and wildlife habitats, including the Hara mangroves, Shidvar Island, Qeshm Island, Oman’s Musandam national park, and Iran’s Minab River delta. Some affected countries have initiated cleanup operations, with the UAE closing beaches and launching extensive cleanup efforts following the Gem No 2 incident. However, comprehensive damage assessment remains constrained by the naval blockade and restricted access to affected regions, with some researchers reporting directives prohibiting public discussion of environmental impacts.
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