Key Takeaway: The UAE accuses Iran’s IRGC of firing a missile at an ADNOC tanker in the Strait of Hormuz; ADNOC confirmed a vessel was targeted but gave no damage details and reported no casualties. The strike has drawn strong condemnation from Gulf states, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. ADNOC says 15 of its vessels have been attacked since the conflict began, resulting in one death and 20 injuries — raising fresh concerns about maritime security and global energy supplies.
UAE Says IRGC Fired Missile At ADNOC Tanker In Strait Of Hormuz — No Casualties Reported
Vessels near the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, [File: Stringer/Reuters]
The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of striking an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) tanker with a missile while it transited the Strait of Hormuz, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Saturday. The ministry said the vessel was hit in the early hours as it passed the strategic waterway, a chokepoint for a large share of the world’s seaborne oil.
ADNOC confirmed to state news agency WAM that one of its ships had been targeted by a missile but did not provide specifics on the vessel’s condition or its exact location at the time of the incident. The UAE said there were no casualties.
Accusation and Context
Abu Dhabi described the strike as an act of piracy carried out by the IRGC and urged Tehran to stop such attacks and to reopen the strait “fully and unconditionally.” The UAE ministry warned that using the waterway as a tool of pressure or economic coercion threatens regional stability and global energy security.
The IRGC has previously warned it could act against vessels transiting the strait if those ships are linked to Tehran’s adversaries or fail to follow Iranian directives, raising tension over freedom of navigation in the region.
ADNOC Statement and Toll
On Friday, ADNOC said it had been significantly affected by a series of unprovoked attacks on its personnel and assets but that it was continuing to meet customer commitments in what it called an “exceptionally challenging environment.” The company reported that 15 of its vessels have been hit by missiles and drones while transiting the strait since the start of the conflict, including three attacks this week, resulting in one crew member killed and 20 others injured. ADNOC did not identify the perpetrators in its statement.
Regional Reactions
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jassim Mohammed al-Budaiwi condemned the reported strike as a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation,” calling for international measures to protect maritime navigation and reaffirming the bloc’s solidarity with the UAE.
Qatar denounced the attack and rejected the use of the Strait of Hormuz as a bargaining chip, urging that the waterway be reopened without conditions and warning that any prolonged disruption would harm regional and global economies.
Saudi Arabia condemned the targeting of the tanker “in the strongest terms,” saying Iran’s continued strikes represent a grave breach of international law and citing United Nations Resolution 2817. Riyadh held Tehran responsible for the consequences and demanded an immediate halt to the attacks. Jordan likewise described the incident as a clear violation of international law and expressed full support for the UAE.
What This Means
The reported missile strike marks a sharp escalation in tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, an essential artery for global energy shipments. The incident has prompted calls across the Gulf for steps to protect commercial shipping and to ensure that the passage remains open to international traffic.
Note: Details on the extent of damage to the ADNOC vessel and its precise location have not been disclosed by authorities or ADNOC at the time of reporting.
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