Digital Phablet

Tag: satellite imagery

  • Two Slicks Emerge in Gulf Amid Massive Oman Oil Spill Threat

    Two Slicks Emerge in Gulf Amid Massive Oman Oil Spill Threat

    Two oil slicks have emerged within Iranian waters, confirmed by satellite imagery and video footage verified by Reuters. These incidents occur amid escalating exchanges of attacks involving Iran and the United States targeting tankers and other ships, actions that hinder access for site assessment and environmental cleanup.

    Off the coast of Oman, just outside the Strait of Hormuz, a grounded tanker named Caroline Bezengi is discharging Russian crude oil into a protected marine zone, resulting in a massive oil slick estimated at around 2,000 square kilometers. This spill is not directly connected to the ongoing regional conflict.

    Inside the Gulf, one slick appeared near the southern tip of Qeshm Island, a prominent dolphin-shaped landmass in the Strait of Hormuz close to Iran. Satellite images from Copernicus’s Sentinel-2 shows the slick, with dark patches indicating heavy fuel oil, alongside a lighter, more diluted spill stretching approximately 160 kilometers. A video verified by Reuters shows a bubbling, dark liquid washing ashore on Suza Beach on Qeshm Island, contrasting sharply with the surrounding turquoise waters.

    A second spill was identified near Sirri Island, a smaller landmass centrally located in the Gulf about 100 kilometers southwest of Qeshm, which hosts Iranian offshore oil and gas operations. The images of this spill were taken on August 13.

    The Qeshm Island spill is believed to originate from the Minoan Pioneer, a Liberia-flagged dry bulk carrier. The vessel was struck near Oman’s coast on August 3 by an unidentified projectile, suspected to be part of an Iranian attack, resulting in the disappearance of one crew member. The leak from this incident appears to have contributed to the oil slick near Qeshm, according to maritime security sources.

    Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, stated via X (formerly Twitter) that oil pollution from the Gulf had reached Qeshm Island and Preliminary investigations suggest that a foreign bulk carrier might be the source. However, Reuters has not independently verified the exact cause or substances involved in the slicks.

    Efforts to assess and mitigate the spills face difficulties due to the ongoing conflict, with sources indicating that Iranian authorities have impeded rescue and cleanup operations, including the inability of a tugboat to reach the grounded vessel. Satellite experts warn that prolonged leakage increases the risk of widespread environmental damage to ecosystems and coastlines.

  • Oil spill from sanctioned tanker off Oman spreads widely

    Oil spill from sanctioned tanker off Oman spreads widely

    A satellite image captures an oil slick covering roughly 390 square kilometers (about 150 square miles) off the coast of Oman. The government reported that the spill resulted from damage to a vessel under sanctions that was transporting Russian crude oil. The Caroline Bezengi’s crew initially reported problems on June 8 near the Yemeni port of Mukalla, with early assessments suggesting a possible onboard explosion.

    Oman’s environmental authorities are actively working to contain and mitigate the spill, which they confirmed covers an area extending northeast from the Hallaniyat Islands toward the mainland. The closest point of the slick is estimated to be around seven kilometers from the shoreline. Satellite imagery analyzed by authorities indicates that the spill is still spreading, prompting concerns about potential environmental consequences.

    The vessel suffered damage without an official explanation provided by Oman. Prior to the incident, the ship was loaded with Russian crude oil and last transmitted its position via public AIS tracking on June 11 off Yemen’s coast.

    Russia is known for operating an aging fleet of tankers—often poorly maintained—that are used to bypass international sanctions on Russian oil exports. The Caroline Bezengi has been targeted with sanctions by the European Union and Britain due to alleged involvement in transporting Russian fuel.

  • Ukraine strikes key Russian oil hub near Finland

    Ukraine strikes key Russian oil hub near Finland

    Ukraine launched drone attacks aimed at a major Russian oil terminal near the Finnish border on Monday, both Moscow and Kyiv confirmed, resulting in a large blaze at the facility. Satellite imagery captured flames and dense black smoke billowing from the oil terminal in Primorsk, a Russian town situated on the Gulf of Finland, roughly 30 miles from the European Union and NATO countries. Russia has been conducting almost daily air strikes against Ukraine, primarily targeting energy infrastructure and causing blackouts that left millions in cold and darkness during winter. In response, Ukraine has carried out drone raids on Russian military and energy sites, mainly around Moscow.

    Alexander Drozdenko, governor of Russia’s Leningrad region, stated that a fuel tank at Primorsk was damaged, igniting a fire. He added that Russian defenses had intercepted over 70 drones in the region, which is not a primary front in the ongoing conflict. Ukraine’s military reported hitting significant fuel and energy facilities within Russia, including at Primorsk, with initial reports indicating both the tank farm and loading infrastructure were struck. Satellite images suggest fires and smoke emanating from several cylindrical tanks at the site. The port is responsible for approximately 60 million tons of oil annually, Ukraine noted, accusing Russia of using the profits from oil sales to fund the war effort.

    The Ukrainian General Staff also claimed they targeted an oil refinery in Ufa, about 870 miles east of the front lines, resulting in a fire. Ukrainian air forces reported that Moscow launched 251 drones into Ukraine overnight, with 234 intercepted.

  • Iranian Girls’ School with Vibrant Website and Long Online History

    Iranian Girls’ School with Vibrant Website and Long Online History

    A girls’ school in Iran’s Minab was struck on February 28, 2026, during the first day of the conflict. Prior to the attack, the school maintained an active online presence, including numerous photos of students engaged in various activities. Investigations, including those by Reuters, reveal that the school’s digital footprint was substantial, with images depicting girls dressed uniformly and playing, dating back to at least 2018 and archived in 2025.

    The school’s online records also include a listing in a local business directory, with photos showing the alleyway marked explicitly as “Girls School.” Satellite imagery from recent months indicates the school was active in the community, with visible playground markings and structural details consistent with educational facilities.

    The school sat adjacent to a military installation, separated by a brightly painted wall. On February 28, the nearby structures, including at least one building in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) complex, were hit during a barrage believed to include a U.S.-made Tomahawk cruise missile. Satellite data, photos, and videos confirm multiple explosions along a 325-meter stretch, with evidence of the destruction of the school and a nearby building that suffered a large hole on its roof.

    Despite no official confirmation, U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Iran may possess Tomahawk missiles, though he provided no supporting evidence. The Pentagon stated that an investigation is ongoing but declined to comment on the specifics of the strike or the targeted location.

    Two anonymous sources told Reuters that outdated targeting information might have contributed to the strike, a concern first reported by the New York Times. Defense analyst Mark Cancian of the Center for Strategic and International Studies indicated that the U.S. had long-term target lists for potential conflicts with Iran and emphasized the need for routine review of such targets.

    The targeted buildings appear to have been specifically chosen, rather than part of a broader bombing campaign, with only six structures—including the school—being damaged within a five-kilometer radius between February 28 and March 2. Minab, located near the Strait of Hormuz and surrounded by farmland, hosts one of Iran’s largest IRGC missile bases, according to state media.

    Post-attack satellite imagery highlighted significant upheaval, notably at the town cemetery, where fresh graves for victims were dug on March 2, arranged neatly in rows. The school was part of the Persian Gulf Martyrs’ Cultural Educational Institute, with its website displaying photos of students in the yard, corroborated by footage taken after the strike.

    Further analysis shows the girls’ school and a similar boys’ school in Minab located in or near IRGC-controlled zones, as per archived website information. The girls’ school’s address is listed on Resalat Blvd, behind the Asef Brigade, a known missile unit under IRGC Navy command, with photos and Maps confirming the presence of the school on that site.

    On the day of the strike, the U.S. Navy released images and videos of a Tomahawk missile launch from the USS Spruance, showing the missile in flight. Support for the missile type’s identity came from military experts who analyzed footage and debris, concluding it was likely a Tomahawk, though some suggested it could have been a glide bomb.

    Satellite images from late 2015 confirm the school area was enclosed and functioning as an educational space since at least 2018, showing murals on the exterior walls. The Iranian media published photographs claiming the remnants of an American missile hit the school, with forensic expert Hany Farid confirming no signs of digital manipulation in the images.

    Parts of the missile recovered from the scene match other Tomahawk segments shown by Yemen’s Houthi forces in 2025, reinforcing the assessment of the missile’s type. Notably, activity at the school persisted into December 2025, with imagery indicating gatherings in the yard.