On Monday, Iran attacked a fully-loaded crude oil tanker at Dubai Port, igniting a fire and damaging its hull, according to Kuwait Petroleum Corp. This incident raises concerns about a potential oil spill. The attack is part of a series of assaults on merchant vessels in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran on February 28.
In response to the attack on the Kuwaiti-flagged Al-Salmi tanker, Dubai authorities confirmed they were managing a drone assault and that maritime firefighting teams were deployed to control the blaze. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and all 24 crew members are safe. Kuwait Petroleum Corp is currently assessing the damage to the vessel.
Earlier that day, a Greek-owned container ship near Saudi Arabia’s Ras Tanura reported two projectiles landing in the water nearby, though the crew remained unharmed. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously claimed responsibility for an attack on the same ship, the Express Rome, on March 11. No group has yet claimed responsibility for the recent tanker attack or the projectiles.
