Two commercial tankers reported being struck by unknown projectiles in the Gulf of Oman on Saturday, while Kuwait said it intercepted multiple Iranian drones targeting its territory. The incidents occurred as tensions between the U.S. and Iran intensified following the collapse of a temporary ceasefire.
Two tankers struck in Gulf of Oman
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported two separate incidents involving tankers in waters off Oman on July 26, 2026. In the first, a tanker was struck by an unknown projectile approximately 11 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Lima, damaging its engine room and leaving the vessel not under command. The UKMTO confirmed no casualties or environmental impact had been reported. A second tanker, located 21 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Khasab, reported observing a large splash and explosion near its position, though no damage was confirmed.
Kuwait’s military separately stated it had detected and destroyed hostile drones in its airspace since dawn, describing the attacks as originating from Iran and targeting vital facilities. Falling debris caused property damage but no casualties, according to Kuwait’s army.
Iran warns Gulf states over U.S. cooperation
Iran escalated its rhetoric on Saturday, with Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, commander of Iran’s Central Khatam-al Anbia Headquarters, warning Muslim countries in the region to reconsider their cooperation with the U.S. or face potential retaliation. The statement, carried by the semi-official Tasnim news agency, followed reports that the U.S. was preparing for a new wave of strikes against Iran as early as this weekend.
U.S. media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal, cited unnamed officials as saying President Donald Trump had approved plans for a multi-day military campaign against Iranian targets, though the timing remained uncertain. Trump publicly threatened further action on Friday, telling reporters at a Cabinet meeting that he would strike Iran "very hard" and that Tehran’s military capabilities would soon be "no longer the case."
Breakdown of U.S.-Iran ceasefire and regional escalation
A temporary ceasefire, established under a memorandum of understanding signed June 17, has effectively collapsed, according to reports. Key disputes remain unresolved, including Iran’s nuclear program and control over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—a chokepoint through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supplies passed before the conflict began.
Over the past week, the U.S. conducted a heavy wave of strikes targeting dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) sites in Iran. In retaliation, Iran launched attacks on U.S. military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, according to regional reports. Egypt separately reported that a drone strike hit two ships at its Mediterranean port of Damietta, triggering a fire, though no group claimed responsibility.
The Strait of Hormuz, located near the incidents, remains a strategic flashpoint, with heightened risks prompting some shipowners to adopt additional security precautions. The region’s maritime security has deteriorated amid the reciprocal strikes and retaliatory threats between the U.S. and Iran.