War in the Middle East: an oil slick of more than 50 km2 detected in the Gulf off the coast of Iran

Threat of oil spill on the sidelines of the conflict between Iran and the United States. An oil slick was detected in the Persian Gulf, off the coast of the Iranian island of Kharg, the country’s main oil terminal, according to satellite images released on Friday May 8 by the CEOBS (Conflict and Environment Observatory).

According to this United Kingdom-based organization, this is one of the largest oil slicks spotted in the Gulf since the start of the Israeli-American offensive against Iran on February 28, which triggered a war in which many oil installations were destroyed. been targeted on both sides. Several strikes also targeted Kharg Island. The origin of this oil spill is not known, added CEOBS on the X network.

According to the New York Timesthe slick extended over more than 50 km2 on Thursday, according to satellite images analyzed by the specialist firm Orbital EOS. According to the American daily, the equivalent of “plus de 3 000 barils de pétrole” could have spread at sea. According to CEOBS, the oil slick is drifting south and “it seems unlikely that it will be dealt with appropriately”.