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In the wake of U.S. and Israeli military actions under Operation Epic Fury, Iran is reportedly launching “indiscriminate” attacks on vessels throughout the Gulf of Oman and the broader Persian Gulf, according to insights from a maritime intelligence firm.
Windward AI has reported that the Skylight, a Palau-flagged tanker already under sanction, was struck amidst escalating tensions in the Middle East. Notably, the tanker harbors Iranian nationals among its crew and maintains connections to Tehran’s regime.
The intelligence firm explained, “An analysis of vessel associations, targeting trends, and cargo information suggests a strategy centered on indiscriminate area denial rather than precision strikes. This approach aims to showcase Iran’s capability to disrupt the Strait and deter commercial maritime traffic.”
As tensions rise, the Gulf of Oman has become a hotspot for tanker attacks, with Iran’s retaliatory measures against Operation Epic Fury further complicating the situation. Missiles and drones have been deployed by Iran, targeting not only U.S. positions but also those of their allies in Qatar, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates, thereby impacting commercial activity through this critical maritime corridor.
Iran has been retaliating with missiles and drones 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 were reported attacked since the hostilities escalated Feb. 28, Windward described Skylight as “the highest-risk vessel in the group and the most anomalous target.”
The UKMTO Operation Centre also later confirmed attacks on Skylight, MKD Vyom and Hercules Star, warning of significant military activity across the Gulf of Oman, the Persian Gulf, the North Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz.
Skylight had been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control in December 2025, and was used to transport Iranian petroleum products, according to reports.
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 at anchor since Feb. 22 and carried 20 crew members — 15 Indians and five Iranians.
A satellite view of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global energy supply, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. (Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2025/Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)
“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.
Reuters also reported March 1 that the Palau-flagged tanker was hit off Oman’s Musandam Peninsula in the Gulf of Oman, injuring four.
Oman’s Maritime Security Center said in a post on X that Skylight was attacked about 5 nautical miles north of Khasab Port, caught fire and was evacuated.
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