Ret. Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg evaluates where the U.S.-Iran conflict stands and how much longer the regime can hold out on ‘Hannity.’
A second suspected oil slick has been detected nearIran’s Kharg Island export hub. according to maritime intelligence firmWindward AI, heightening fears of an environmental disaster as a larger spill identified May 8 continues drifting toward Saudi Arabian waters.
The suspected new slick comes as U.N. officials warned Sunday that oil spills in the region could trigger an environmental catastrophe amid the ongoingStrait of Hormuz crisis.
"Another possible oil spill was detected today at 11 a.m. local time," Windward told Fox News Digital. The approximate visible area, according to the firm, was between 12 to 20 square kilometers.
Tehran has pointed to foreign vessels, but maritime experts say the main slick — estimated at tens of thousands of barrels. covering about 65 square kilometers, according to theU.N. University Institute for Water, Environment. Health— is more likely linked to aging infrastructure, pipeline ruptures or a "war mode" environment that has threatened the waterway since February.
IRAN THREATENS MASS ‘WATER WAR’ WITH STRIKES ON KEY PLANTS IN DAYS, UN OFFICIAL WARNS
A suspected oil spill covering dozens of square kilometres of sea near Iran's main oil hub of Kharg Island has been seen on satellite imagery this week.(Reuters)
"We should worry about the cause of the slick. monitor things carefully to see if there are new developments," U.N. officialDr. Kaveh Madanitold Fox News Digital.
"If this slick gets bigger. we should be seriously worried about there being a leakage of aging infrastructure," Madani said, adding the slick was "moving away toward the southwest of the island."
"We just have to see how it moves and if it gets closer to the centers of population. If it does, desalination operations also must be halted. The risk is low right now," he said.
Madani also noted the slick is near a zone with a heavy concentration of pipelines andenergy infrastructure.
"Keeping these infrastructure systems healthy. operational has been very hard for the Iranians even in peacetime due to sanctions," he said, warning that amid conflict, a "major accident is very likely."
Water circulation in the Persian Gulf is slow, meaningpollutioncan persist for extended periods, he added.
"We saw similar instances during the Gulf wars. the Iran-IraqWar, with these things impacting coastal communities, the fishing industry, marine life and even the intake of desalination plants," he said.
BEFORE-AND-AFTER SATELLITE IMAGERY OFFERS A RARE LOOK AT DAMAGE INSIDE IRAN
Satellite view shows Kharg Island located in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran.(Gallo Images/Orbital Horizon/Copernicus Sentinel Data 2024)
The larger spill, visible in satellite images as a gray-and-white slick, was first detected west of Kharg Island, Windward AI reported May 8,. has been steadily moving.
"It is believed to be crude rather than bunker fuel. unlikely to have come from a ship, possibly originating from pipeline issues or afailed ship-to-ship transfer," the firm said.
The spill could pass through Qatar’s exclusive economic zone within about four days. with possible landfall near Al Mirfa in theUnited Arab Emiratesin roughly 13 days, according to Windward.
The incident comes as Washington ramps up "Economic Fury,"tightening sanctions. increasingits naval presence near the Strait of Hormuz to curb Iran’s oil exports.
SinceIran closed the straitin late February following the outbreak of hostilities. tankers have bottlenecked across the region as the vital oil chokepoint remains largely shut.
"We also know that there are many tankers in the area. so there is a chance of an accidental spill," Madani said.
US EYES SEIZING IRAN’S OIL LIFELINE — BUT IT MAY NOT CRIPPLE TEHRAN
A second suspected oil slick near Iran’s Kharg Island is raising environmental fears as a larger spill drifts toward Gulf waters. officials warn aging infrastructure, conflict and tanker congestion could worsen the threat.(Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)
"As long as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz is there. the region is in a war mode, the environment would not be a priority, but monitoring the behavior of tankers would not be trivial," he said.
Meanwhile,Jafar Pourkabgani, a lawmaker representing Bushehr province, claimed the slick was caused by "oil residue. ballast water waste from European tankers" discharged into the sea.
"This claim is false. part of the enemy’s psychological operation," he wrote on X, referring to allegations Iran released oil due tofull storage tanks.
Iran’s Oil Terminals Company also denied reports of a leak near Kharg Island, according toReuters.
The company’s chief executive said Sunday that inspections found no evidence of leaks from storage tanks. pipelines, loading facilities or nearby tankers.
Emma Bussey is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital. Before joining Fox, she worked at The Telegraph with the U.S. overnight team, across desks including foreign, politics, news, sport and culture.
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