World

Greek‑Owned Tanker Seafarer Killed in Missile Strike Near Strait of Hormuz

By AFP

A seafarer aboard the Marshall Islands‑flagged Greek‑owned oil tanker Velos Sapphire was killed in an apparent missile attack on Thursday, November 5, 2026, according to Velos Tankers. The vessel, which was sailing empty toward Bahrain, suffered an explosion likely caused by an unidentified projectile that struck its port quarter, sparking a fire. The company said the crew are safe and the tanker remains under its own power, continuing its voyage.

Iranian media reported that five oil tankers and a tugboat caught fire after striking mines in the Strait of Hormuz on the same day. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said two additional oil tankers were on fire in the strategic gateway to the Gulf. British maritime agency UKMTO confirmed that a tanker transiting the strait the previous day had reported an explosion “at the waterline, port side” off Oman.

Since the West Asia war began on February 28, Tehran has sought to limit traffic through the strait, which normally carries about one‑fifth of global oil consumption. The United States has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and escorted tankers through the waterway. U.S. Central Command stated last month that it had helped Gulf countries export 1.5 billion barrels of oil via Hormuz since the summer and that all mines had been cleared from the waterway.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said that two violating oil tankers—one east of the Strait of Hormuz and the other within the Strait—struck mines after deactivating all navigation and identification systems while attempting to exit the strait with the support of the U.S. military. Following the collisions, the tankers caught fire and were brought to a stop.