Reports of attacks on multiple commercial vessels in the Gulf of Oman and Black Sea

On July 20, 2026, several commercial vessels were struck by projectile or drone attacks in different maritime regions. Two Greek-managed tankers, the Cavos Maleas (Malta flag) and the Acheloos, were targeted off the coast of Oman, with the Cavos Maleas reported as severely damaged and abandoned by its crew. Iranian Revolutionary Guard forces claimed responsibility for the incident, alleging the ships violated maritime regulations. Separately, in the Black Sea, the Turkish-owned cargo ship Golden Leo was struck by a missile at the port of Odessa, resulting in fire, one injury, and five missing crew members. Additionally, the Greek-owned tanker Nissos Ios (Liberia flag) was struck by drones while loading oil at the Novorossiysk terminal in Russia, causing significant damage but no injuries or leaks. Another Greek-owned tanker, Asia (Liberia flag), also sustained material damage in the Novorossiysk incident. Regional security experts have expressed concern over the escalation of threats to international shipping routes.