The United States-Iran war is increasingly extending to commercial shipping around the Strait of Hormuz, where strikes have targeted oil tankers and other vessels. The United States struck five Iranian oil tankers on September 8 and three more on September 5, after Iran fired ballistic missiles toward a US aircraft carrier and navy destroyer near the strait, according to US Central Command. Iran later said it targeted three tankers using what it called an unauthorised route through the strait, along with three US-linked vessels elsewhere. MarineTraffic data showed 42 tankers waiting to transit Hormuz on September 7, including 18 carrying oil and petroleum products with estimated combined capacity of 1.76 million cubic metres, or about 11.1 million barrels. At least 75 ships have been attacked since the war began, killing at least 21 seafarers; two incidents caused minor spills and six caused fires. Existing pollution includes oil leaking from the Caroline Bezengi off Oman and slicks linked by experts to the Minoan Pioneer incident, though the source of those slicks was not independently confirmed. Scientists warn that a major tanker fire or sinking could damage coral reefs, mangroves, seagrass beds, fisheries and coastal communities in the Gulf, while contamination near desalination (removing salt from seawater) intakes could disrupt water treatment. The region’s limited water exchange with the Indian Ocean increases the pressure on its marine ecosystems, making early detection and prevention of contaminated seawater entering desalination systems a priority.