Around 20,000 seafarers and approximately 15,000 cruise ship passengers are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf due to the ongoing conflict sparked by the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, according to the French AFP newspaper, citing the UN’s International Maritime Organization (IMO). IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure the safety and well-being of those affected.
In response to the crisis, Greek seafarers initiated a 24-hour strike, impacting local ferry services as a protest against the crews’ entrapment in the Gulf. They are advocating for the area to be designated as a war risk zone to facilitate their repatriation.
Meanwhile, in the United Arab Emirates, debris from intercepted drones fell in Abu Dhabi, resulting in injuries to six individuals from Pakistan and Nepal. The UAE’s media office reported that the injuries ranged from minor to moderate.
Additionally, the Qatari capital of Doha experienced renewed aerial attacks, with several explosions reported after the Defense Ministry announced its military was engaged in intercepting incoming missiles. This escalation follows a meeting between Qatari Premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, where concerns were raised about Iran’s aggressive actions against Gulf nations.
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