A fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker anchored off Dubai’s port was struck on Monday, triggering a fire and damaging the vessel’s hull, according to Kuwait’s state news agency KUNA, which cited Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. The company warned that the incident could potentially lead to an oil spill.
The attack is the latest in a string of escalations targeting commercial shipping in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. Recent weeks have seen the use of missiles, as well as aerial and maritime drones, against vessels in the region.
“The Kuwaiti crude oil tanker was subjected to a direct and deliberate Iranian attack while in the anchorage area of Dubai Port,” KUNA reported, quoting officials from the state-owned oil company.
Authorities in Dubai confirmed that the vessel was targeted in a drone strike in local waters. Emergency response teams, including maritime firefighting units, were deployed to contain the blaze. Officials said all 24 crew members were safe and no casualties were reported, according to Reuters.
Iran has not yet issued any official response to the allegations.
In a related development, two unidentified projectiles reportedly struck the water near the Liberia-flagged container ship Express Rome, about 22 nautical miles (40.7 km) northeast of Ras Tanura. The incidents occurred roughly an hour apart, with no injuries reported.
British maritime risk-management firm Vanguard noted that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on the Express Rome on March 11, underscoring growing risks to shipping in the region.
