A Kuwaiti-owned crude oil tanker, the "Al-Salmi," has been subjected to a direct attack by Iran at the Dubai port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), resulting in a fire on board the vessel.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation released this information via the X social media platform. According to official statements, the tanker was fully loaded at the time of the incident. The attack caused significant structural damage to the ship's hull and ignited a fire that required immediate intervention.
The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation confirmed that no injuries were reported among the crew during the incident, and technical teams are currently working to assess the exact extent of the damage. According to The Guardian, the tanker was carrying approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil. All 24 crew members on board have been evacuated to safety. While initial reports from the vessel's owner warned of a potential oil spill, Dubai officials later confirmed that a leak into the surrounding waters was prevented. Local government rescue teams successfully localized the incident, ensuring no environmental contamination occurred.
The Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman remain critical maritime corridors for global energy supplies, with approximately one-fifth of the world's oil consumption passing through the nearby Strait of Hormuz. This incident follows a series of maritime tensions in the region that have frequently impacted international shipping lanes and global oil price stability. Security experts note that such attacks in major regional hubs like Dubai's port facilities underscore the ongoing volatility and the strategic importance of maintaining maritime security in Middle Eastern waters.
