Indian-Crewed Tanker El Gaia Struck Off Oman Coast in Strait of Hormuz, One Crew Member Missing

The Panama-flagged tanker El Gaia (IMO 9325336), carrying 25 crew including 14 Indian and 11 Pakistani nationals, was struck by an unknown projectile while transiting off the Omani coast in the Strait of Hormuz, sparking a fire that engulfed the vessel. Thirteen of the fourteen Indian crew were evacuated by local authorities; a search and rescue operation continued for the missing crew member. UKMTO confirmed the fire via a red alert. India's Ministry of External Affairs said 'the targeting of commercial shipping, seafarers, civilians, and civilian infrastructure in the region is unacceptable' and that its embassy in Oman was coordinating with Omani authorities. No country claimed responsibility; the vessel's AIS transponder had reportedly been off for more than five days before the strike, and it had been listed on Iran's Persian Gulf Strait Authority (PGSA) Non-Compliant Vessels List. Iranian state-linked media separately claimed the vessel instead detonated a naval mine while transiting 'without authorization,' with the IRGC Navy reasserting that the strait 'is closed and remains under our intelligent control.'