Tanker El Gaia hit in the Strait of Hormuz was operating in ‘dark mode’

A Panama-flagged tanker, MT El Gaia, reportedly operating in "dark mode" with its Automatic Identification System (AIS) switched off, was hit by a projectile in the Strait of Hormuz. Two crew members, including one Indian national, are missing. The Omani Coast Guard rescued the remaining 23 crew members. The incident has led to conflicting claims regarding the cause, with Iran's IRGC Navy stating the tanker struck naval mines while using an illegal route, and the United States asserting it was hit by a missile and then a drone. The Indian Government has not attributed responsibility for the attack.