Ships are still being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz despite growing talk of de-escalation in the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, with fresh evidence of burning tankers and oil washing up on the shores of Oman. The violence at sea has continued even as crude oil prices fell to two-month lows on Tuesday after US officials played down the need for further military action against Iran.

Videos posted on social media on Sunday and verified by Reuters showed the Navig8 Messi, a Singapore-flagged refined products tanker, on fire near the coast of Oman. A satellite image taken by the European Union's Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite on Sunday showed a large cloud of black smoke at the same location. The vessel was one of three tankers hit on Sunday for using what Iran called "unauthorised routes" through the strait, according to Iranian state broadcaster IRIB, citing the Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy.

The ship is managed by Navig8, which is majority owned by ADNOC Logistics and Services. Neither company replied to emailed requests for comment from Reuters. Open-source analysts identified the vessel as the Navig8 Messi, an ADNOC-chartered product tanker that was previously hit by drones in August, repaired and returned to the same trade lane, The Maritime Executive reported.

October was the worst month yet for shipping attacks

There is little sign of the attacks easing. Thirty-seven ships were attacked in October, the highest monthly total since the war began, according to data from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. The International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents, most of them attacks, in the region since the conflict began in late February, with at least 25 seafarers killed.

A second tanker was hit by a projectile during an outbound transit through the strait on Saturday, with its crew reported safe and no environmental impact, according to The Maritime Executive. A further tanker was struck northeast of Oman's Lima on Tuesday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said, without saying who struck it. Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy said separately that two tankers caught fire after hitting naval mines on an "unauthorised route".

Oil spills reach the shores of Oman

The attacks are now causing environmental damage. Oil has leaked from damaged tankers, and a video shared on social media on Monday and verified by Reuters showed oil reaching the shores of Oman, while satellite imagery showed oil spills off the coasts of Oman and the United Arab Emirates. The Omani government did not respond to a Reuters request for comment on Tuesday.

At the same time, US forces have continued to enforce a naval blockade of Iranian ports. In the latest incident, a US military aircraft fired on and disabled a St Kitts-flagged cargo vessel that tried to depart regional waters after visiting an Iranian port on Saturday, US Central Command said. On the same day, US forces targeted and disabled the Iran-linked bulker Huda, saying its crew had ignored repeated warnings and tried to break the blockade.

Energy infrastructure on land has also come under attack. Video verified by Reuters showed damage to Saudi Aramco's office building in Riyadh following Houthi-claimed missile strikes on 8 November. The Saudi Energy Ministry said debris caused limited damage to the building, with no injuries or fatalities.

What happens next in the Strait of Hormuz?

The contrast between the markets and the waterway is stark. Traders have taken comfort from President Donald Trump's more conciliatory tone since the Republicans' defeat in the 3 November midterm elections, pushing crude to two-month lows. But for the crews and owners moving oil through the strait, the danger has not lifted: the Joint Maritime Information Center kept its threat level for the strait at severe, warning that further deliberate attacks were highly likely.

How many ships have been attacked? Thirty-seven ships were attacked in October, the highest monthly total since the war began, and the International Maritime Organization has confirmed 130 incidents in the region since late February, with at least 25 seafarers killed.

Which tanker was seen on fire? The Navig8 Messi, a Singapore-flagged refined products tanker managed by Navig8, was shown on fire near the coast of Oman in videos verified by Reuters, with satellite imagery confirming a large smoke cloud at the same spot.