Iran War Oil Spill Affects Protected Arabian Gulf Island, Satellite Photos Show
Attack on Iranian oil refinery causes ecological damage to Shidvar Island and surrounding waters.
A mysterious attack on an Iranian oil refinery during the ongoing conflict has resulted in an oil spill affecting Shidvar Island, a protected breeding ground for wildlife in the Arabian Gulf.
Videos and satellite photos have captured the extent of the environmental damage caused by the war.
Oily rain has also fallen on Tehran after airstrikes targeted oil facilities there.
Additionally, Iranian attacks on ships passing through the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman have led to further environmental damage.
Mobile phone footage shot by an Iranian named Ehsan Jalali shows thick black smoke rising from the strike on an oil refinery on Lavan Island.
The footage was posted on Instagram recently, as Iran's government has restricted internet access.
The video also depicts a lifeless bird and crab covered in oil, as well as a dead swordfish.
Jalali narrates, "Poor birds, look how they are stuck in oil.
Look at the herd of dolphins.
Poor things come to the surface to breathe, but they swallow oil".
Satellite photos taken on April 10 from an Airbus DS Pléiades Neo show the fire still burning two days after the attack.
The surrounding waters of the Arabian Gulf are stained with oil, wrapping around Shidvar Island, also known as Maroo Island.
Jalali comments in the footage, "Oh my God, the sea is full of oil, oh my God, Maroo Island.
The sea is full of oil, the beautiful Maroo Island is ruined now".
Shidvar Island, covering an area of approximately 870 hectares, holds international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and has been recognized as a crucial breeding ground for terns in Iran since 1972.
Iranian officials have not acknowledged any environmental damage caused by the attack.
The attack on the Lavan oil refinery occurred hours after the United States and Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Iran.
The US had requested Israel to halt its attacks on oil infrastructure following an earlier strike on facilities associated with Iran's offshore South Pars natural gas field.
This led to major Iranian assaults targeting oil and gas facilities across the Gulf Arab states, particularly affecting Qatar.
Iranian media outlets have accused the United Arab Emirates of carrying out the attack, a claim not acknowledged by Emirati officials.
The UAE faced more missile and drone fire than any other country during the conflict and has intensified its rhetoric against Iran due to Tehran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant came under attack in a drone assault resembling those launched by Iran and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
Videos and satellite photos have captured the extent of the environmental damage caused by the war.
Oily rain has also fallen on Tehran after airstrikes targeted oil facilities there.
Additionally, Iranian attacks on ships passing through the Arabian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Gulf of Oman have led to further environmental damage.
Mobile phone footage shot by an Iranian named Ehsan Jalali shows thick black smoke rising from the strike on an oil refinery on Lavan Island.
The footage was posted on Instagram recently, as Iran's government has restricted internet access.
The video also depicts a lifeless bird and crab covered in oil, as well as a dead swordfish.
Jalali narrates, "Poor birds, look how they are stuck in oil.
Look at the herd of dolphins.
Poor things come to the surface to breathe, but they swallow oil".
Satellite photos taken on April 10 from an Airbus DS Pléiades Neo show the fire still burning two days after the attack.
The surrounding waters of the Arabian Gulf are stained with oil, wrapping around Shidvar Island, also known as Maroo Island.
Jalali comments in the footage, "Oh my God, the sea is full of oil, oh my God, Maroo Island.
The sea is full of oil, the beautiful Maroo Island is ruined now".
Shidvar Island, covering an area of approximately 870 hectares, holds international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and has been recognized as a crucial breeding ground for terns in Iran since 1972.
Iranian officials have not acknowledged any environmental damage caused by the attack.
The attack on the Lavan oil refinery occurred hours after the United States and Israel agreed to a ceasefire with Iran.
The US had requested Israel to halt its attacks on oil infrastructure following an earlier strike on facilities associated with Iran's offshore South Pars natural gas field.
This led to major Iranian assaults targeting oil and gas facilities across the Gulf Arab states, particularly affecting Qatar.
Iranian media outlets have accused the United Arab Emirates of carrying out the attack, a claim not acknowledged by Emirati officials.
The UAE faced more missile and drone fire than any other country during the conflict and has intensified its rhetoric against Iran due to Tehran's actions in the Strait of Hormuz.
Additionally, the UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant came under attack in a drone assault resembling those launched by Iran and Iranian-backed militias in Iraq.
