Indian Crew Member Killed as Iranian Missiles Hit Oil Tankers in Strait of Hormuz
An Indian crew member was killed and eight others were wounded after two Emirati oil tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles in the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday. The attack occurred in the southern shipping lane of the strait, within Omani territorial waters.
The ministry identified the tankers as the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah. The deceased crew member was aboard the Mombasa. Among the eight injured, four are in serious condition. Six of the wounded are Indian nationals, while two are Ukrainian nationals.
The attack caused fires on both tankers, resulting in material damage. The ministry said the fires have been brought under control. It condemned the strike as a 'blatant attack' and stated that the UAE retains its full right to respond to this escalation. The ministry added that the UAE remains prepared to deal with any threats and is taking necessary measures to respond firmly to attempts to undermine its security.
Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that a tanker was hit by an unknown projectile 40 nautical miles northeast of Oman’s Qalhat. The tanker's master reported the projectile struck the starboard-side engine room, and all crew were safe. It was not immediately clear if this was the same incident.
Iran has not commented on the latest attacks. The incident follows weeks of heightened tensions since the war broke out on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. On Monday, President Donald Trump said the U.S. was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would ensure the Strait of Hormuz stays open 'for a fee,' warning that U.S. forces would hit Iran again 'very hard.' Iran’s top joint military command responded that the U.S. has no role in determining the future of the waterway and will not be allowed to intervene.
The conflict has destabilised the Gulf region and spread, with Iran attacking U.S. bases in multiple countries. It has also thrown into question an interim U.S.-Iranian agreement signed last month to reopen the strait and halt hostilities. Before the conflict began in February, about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas traffic passed through Hormuz daily, delivering over 15 million barrels of fuel worth at least $1.2 billion to global markets.
