UAE Accuses Iran of Fatal Missile Strike on Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz

The United Arab Emirates said two of its oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, killing one crew member and wounding eight others in a significant escalation of hostilities in the vital shipping lane.

Details of the Attack

According to a statement from the UAE Ministry of Defence on Tuesday, the tankers, named *Mombasa* and *Al Bahiyah*, were targeted while in Omani territorial waters. The attack caused fires and material damage to both vessels, though the ministry reported the fires have since been brought under control.

The ministry provided a breakdown of the casualties:

• One Indian crew member was killed aboard the *Mombasa*.
• Eight other crew members were wounded, four of them seriously.
• The wounded included six Indian nationals and two Ukrainian nationals.

The UAE condemned the incident as a "blatant attack" and stated it retains "its full right to respond to this escalation."

Conflicting Reports and Regional Tensions

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Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued its own statement on Tuesday, claiming it had hit and disabled two "offending" supertankers. The IRGC alleged the vessels had ignored repeated warnings, turned off their navigation systems, and were attempting to use a mined route. The IRGC did not name the vessels involved or confirm they were the same ones cited by the UAE.

Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile 40 nautical miles northeast of Qalhat, Oman. It remains unconfirmed if the UKMTO report refers to the same incident. These events unfold amid a wider conflict that began on February 28, involving U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran, which has destabilized the region.

Market Implications for Global Energy

The attack further threatens global energy security, as the Strait of Hormuz is a critical chokepoint for oil and gas shipments. Before the conflict, the waterway handled the transit of over 15 million barrels of fuel daily, representing approximately a fifth of the world's supply.

The incident follows a recent move by the U.S. to reinstate a blockade of Iranian shipping, heightening risks for all maritime traffic in the area. The conflict has thrown an interim U.S.-Iranian agreement to reopen the strait into jeopardy, creating significant uncertainty for energy markets and potentially driving oil prices higher amid supply disruption fears.