Something distressing to see has arrived in my inbox a short time ago. It was obvious from the start of the hostilities that environmental and ecological damage was going to happen, but very little news came out in that regard. It is an aspect of the conflict tween Israel / US and Iran that is often forgotten in a war.
Last week an oil slick was reported close to Kharg Island with no real confirmation as to where the oil came from. Due to the Iranian leadership closing down the internet across the country since hostilities began, very little information has come through in regard to the environmental damage done within the Persian Gulf. A vast majority of the shoreline across all Gulf States including Iran is protected, along with many of the small islands.
In the last day or so film footage and photographs have emerged from within Iran of the damage being done to the delicate environment. During the hostilities an oil refinery on Iran's Lavan Island was hit. The damage done was extensive...including oily rain falling in Tehran. Nearby on Shidvar Island, which is uninhabited but has colonies of protected wildlife, it is now known that massive oil damage has been done causing severe pollution and possibly irreversible to the sea and shoreline that has killed birds, crabs, swordfish and other wildlife.
The footage has only become public in the last day or two. The damage to Lavan Island refinery was done on or about April 9, 2026, as yet it is unclear who actually hit the refinery. The fires as a result of the attack on the Lavan Island refinery burned for several days afterwards
More on this, along with photos and footage :
Video and satellite photos show Iran war oil spill on Persian Gulf island (AP News Agency - May 19, 2026)
The image below gives Lavan Island position in the Persian Gulf, Shidvar Island is tween Lavan Island and Kish Island.
As the internet is restored in Iran, I suspect there will be more reports of the environmental damage done, not least around the many large ships that were destroyed in and around the Strait of Hormuz.