A maritime intelligence firm reports that Iran is carrying out “indiscriminate” attacks on ships in the Gulf of Oman and the broader Persian Gulf in the wake of U.S.-Israeli strikes launched as part of Operation Epic Fury.
The firm noted that the sanctioned Palau-flagged tanker Skylight was struck as the Middle East conflict entered its second day; the vessel had Iranian citizens among its crew and connections to the Iranian regime.
“An analysis of ship affiliations, targeting patterns, and cargo data points to a strategy of indiscriminate area denial — not precision targeting — aimed at demonstrating Iran’s ability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial shipping,” the firm stated on Monday.
Iran has also been targeting U.S. and allied positions across the region, including in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates.
Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz — which links the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf — is the world’s most critical energy chokepoint.
While three other vessels have been reported attacked since hostilities escalated on Feb. 28, Windward described Skylight as “the highest-risk vessel in the group and the most anomalous target.”
The Operation Centre later confirmed attacks on Skylight, MKD Vyom, and Hercules Star, warning of significant military activity across the Gulf of Oman, Persian Gulf, North Arabian Sea, and Strait of Hormuz.
Reports indicate that Skylight was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in December 2025 and was used to transport Iranian petroleum products.
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 anchored since Feb. 22 and carried 20 crew members — 15 Indians and five Iranians.
“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.
A news outlet also reported on March 1 that the Palau-flagged tanker was hit off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula in the Gulf of Oman, injuring four people.
Oman’s Maritime Security Center said in a post on X that the tanker, located about 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port, caught fire and was evacuated.