Although the fragile ceasefire in the Gulf continues despite small-scale clashes, the ongoing impact of the war has now affected the environment as well.
Oil spills were detected near Khark Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, by European Copernicus Sentinel satellites between May 6 and 8.
The suspected spills, spreading into the Gulf waters west and southwest of Khark Island, were found to cover an area of more than 52 square kilometers as of Thursday.
Visual analyses comparing satellite images taken on April 18 with data captured after May 6 revealed suspicious substances spreading across the sea surface.
Orbital EOS and the Conflict and Environment Observatory (CEOBS), which monitor oil spills, reported that the original source of the pollution has not yet been clearly identified and that the waste is drifting southward.
CEOBS also stated that, given the uncertain source of the incident, the likelihood of the situation being properly addressed appears low.