MUSCAT, June 11, 2026 — A 150-ton Iranian cargo barge carrying essential goods from Oman came under attack by U.S. forces on Thursday morning near the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian authorities.
The governor of Sirik County, cited by Iran’s Mehr News Agency, said the large barge was owned by local residents of Sirik and was transporting daily necessities from Khasab Port in Oman. The vessel was reportedly struck about five nautical miles from Khasab while en route to Iran.
Five crew members were aboard the barge at the time of the incident. Following the attack, they were rescued by a nearby vessel and transported safely to Oman. No casualties among the crew were immediately reported.
The reported strike comes amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
In a separate incident, three Indian sailors were confirmed dead after a U.S. missile strike hit the engine room of the oil tanker Settebello on Wednesday, according to reports.
Reuters quoted India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, as confirming that the three previously missing sailors had died in the attack.
The Palau-flagged tanker, carrying a crew of 28 people—including 24 Indian nationals—was struck about 20 nautical miles off Sohar Port in Oman. The missile attack triggered a fire in the vessel’s engine room, prompting an emergency distress call.
The Indian Embassy in Muscat said 21 of the 24 Indian crew members had been rescued safely. The remaining three sailors were later confirmed dead.
The latest incidents are expected to further heighten tensions in the Gulf region, where maritime security has become increasingly fragile amid the ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
