Dubai, March 31 (UNI) A fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker was struck by an Iranian drone which was anchored in Dubai waters on Tuesday, sparking fears of a potential oil spill and raising tensions in the already volatile Gulf region.
Authorities reported that there have been no injuries and no oil leakage, according to state news agency KUNA.
The vessel, the Al-Salmi, was hit 31 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a British military-run monitoring agency responsible for the area.
Dubai emergency teams extinguished the fire aboard the tanker, and all 24 crew members were safely evacuated. Authorities said teams are engaged in assessing the extent of the damage.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) confirmed the attack via the state news agency KUNA, warning of possible environmental risks.
The strike comes amid a month-long US-Israel aerial campaign against Iran, which has killed thousands across at least nine countries and triggered a global energy crisis,
US President Donald Trump renewed his threat to target Iran’s energy facilities if the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping route for global oil supplies, is not fully reopened. Washington says talks with Tehran are ongoing, but details remain sparse.
On the 15-point plan given by Trump, Iranian officials have criticised US demands as “largely excessive, unrealistic, and unreasonable.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said US troops are being deployed to the region to provide “maximum optionality” while diplomatic efforts continue.
The attack and renewed threats come as oil prices surged Monday, with US crude topping $116 per barrel for the first time since July 2022.
