Satellite images from July 2-13 show a silvery-grey slick in a protected bay southwest of Al-Qibliyah Island, pointing to a likely spill from the sanctioned tanker Caroline Bezengi.
Three independent experts — from SkyTruth, the Conflict and Environment Observatory and Data Desk — said the imagery appears to indicate an oil spill.
The tanker had loaded Russian oil at Novorossiysk before the voyage and last transmitted on the open AIS system on June 11 off Yemen.
Shipping databases list Shanghai-based Rentoor Shipmanagement as owner, but Reuters could not obtain comment; the case adds to scrutiny of sanctioned vessels carrying Russian fuel through sensitive waters.