A crude oil tanker was set ablaze off the coast of Dubai following an apparent drone strike, amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters.
The vessel, identified as the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi and owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, was reportedly fully loaded with crude oil at the time of the incident. According to initial reports, the attack is believed to have been carried out using an explosive drone, marking the latest in a series of maritime security incidents targeting commercial shipping in the Gulf region.
The strike comes against the backdrop of escalating hostilities between the United States and Iran, following joint US-Israeli operations launched on February 28. Tensions have further intensified after US President Donald Trump warned that the United States could “obliterate” Iran’s energy infrastructure, including oil facilities, if Tehran fails to reopen the strategically critical Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation stated that assessments were underway to determine the extent of the damage and cautioned about the potential risk of an oil spill. Meanwhile, authorities in Dubai confirmed that emergency response teams managed to bring the fire under control following the drone strike. No injuries have been reported.
Officials noted that this incident fits into a broader pattern of attacks on merchant vessels in the Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, where several ships have been targeted in recent weeks by missiles and explosive drones. The repeated disruptions have raised concerns over maritime security and the stability of global energy supply chains, given the region’s critical role in international oil transportation.
Investigations into the origin of the attack are ongoing, and no group has yet formally claimed responsibility.