Satellite images show a large oil spill spreading off Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical oil hub terminal for the Islamic republic. The apparent spill has raised concerns about the state of Iranian oil infrastructure as it faces mounting strain from a US-imposed naval blockade.
Live Live: Oil spill detected off Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf Middle East Issued on: 09/05/2026 - 07:49 Modified: 09/05/2026 - 08:35 Share By: FRANCE 24 This satellite image provided by European Space Agency shows an apparent oil spill in the Persian Gulf off the western side of Kharg Island, Iran's main crude oil export terminal, on May 6, 2026.
© AP Satellite images show a large oil spill spreading off Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical oil hub terminal for the Islamic republic. The apparent spill has raised concerns about the state of Iranian oil infrastructure as it faces mounting strain from a US-imposed naval blockade.
09/05/2026 - 08:28 Israel army issues evacuation warning for nine south Lebanon villages Iraeli military called on residents of more than half a dozen villages in southern Lebanon to immediately evacuate ahead of expected attacks against Hezbollah despite a truce with Lebanon intended to halt the fighting.
"In light of the terrorist Hezbollah's violation of the ceasefire agreement, the IDF is compelled to act against it forcefully," the military's Arabic-language spokesman Avichay Adraee posted on X, listing nine villages.
"For your safety, you must evacuate your homes immediately and stay away from the villages and towns by a distance of no less than 1,000 metres to open areas," he added.
09/05/2026 - 08:18 Trapped seafarers traumatised by Gulf fighting Isolated and traumatised by drones and missiles, seafarers in the Gulf face grave mental suffering after more than two months stuck on board in the Middle East war, maritime charities warn.
From captains to cooks, engineers and other officers, the workers who keep global freight flowing have found themselves not just stranded but in some cases right in the firing line of the US-Israeli war with Iran.
"We hear stories of how frightened they are. It's pretty scary," said Gavin Lim, head of the Crisis Response Network for the Sailors' Society, a UK-based seafarers' charity, who spoke with one crew whose vessel was hit. "They thought: 'We were going to die'." Trade vessels have been struck by projectiles and fired on by Iranian Revolutionary Guards in dozens of incidents, according to the British maritime security monitor UKMTO.
At least 11 seafarers have been killed, according to the International Maritime Organization.
09/05/2026 - 08:17 Trump says expecting Iran response to latest proposal 'tonight' US President Donald Trump said Friday that he was expecting Iran's response to Washington's latest proposal on a deal to ending the Middle East war by "tonight." "I'm getting a letter supposedly tonight, so we'll see how that goes," Trump told reporters outside the White House.
09/05/2026 - 07:36 Suspected oil slick off Iran's Kharg Island Satellite images appeared to show an oil slick spreading off the coast of Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal for the Islamic republic.
It was not immediately clear what had caused the apparent spill, which was located off the small Gulf island's west coast.
Orbital EOS, which monitors oil spills, told The New York Times that the spill appeared to cover more than 20 square miles (52 square kilometers) as of Thursday.
The Conflict and Environment Observatory, a non-governmental organization, said on X that the "original source remains unclear, meanwhile it's drifting south and seems unlikely to be addressed appropriately." Yesterday's key developments: • Hezbollah said it had launched a swarm of drones at an airbase in northern Israel, after having claimed another attack targeting an Israeli base earlier in the day.
• US Secretary of State Marco Rubio concluded a two-day visit to Rome on Friday, where he sought to ease tensions with Pope Leo and urged Europeans to help secure the Strait of Hormuz.
(FRANCE 24 with Reuters, AP and AFP) Keywords for this article Iran Donald Trump Marco Rubio USA Strait of Hormuz US military LIVEBLOG
