BREAKING: Iranian Strike Hits Kuwaiti Oil Tanker Off Dubai, Sparking Fire
An Iranian drone strike hit the Kuwaiti tanker Al-Salmi near Dubai, sparking a fire and sending oil prices soaring to $107. Follow the latest on this major escalation in the Gulf as tensions between the U.S. and Iran reach a breaking point.
A fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker was struck by an Iranian drone (described in some reports as a missile or projectile) while anchored at Dubai Port’s anchorage early today (Tuesday) causing a fire on board, authorities and state media confirmed.
The Kuwait-flagged vessel, identified as the Al-Salmi, was carrying nearly 2 million barrels of crude when it was hit. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) described the attack as “direct and malicious,” citing damage to the tanker’s hull and an onboard blaze. Dubai authorities said maritime firefighting teams quickly extinguished the fire, with no injuries reported among the 24 crew members and no oil spill detected so far.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an “unknown projectile” striking the tanker on its starboard side approximately 57 km northwest of Dubai. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has claimed responsibility, according to regional reports, as part of ongoing retaliatory attacks in the Gulf.
The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the wider Iran-U.S.-Israel conflict that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28. It follows repeated Iranian warnings over the Strait of Hormuz and comes hours after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s energy infrastructure if Tehran did not reopen the critical waterway.
Kuwait and UAE officials said response teams contained the situation, preventing any environmental disaster. Oil prices spiked in early trading following the attack, with Brent crude hovering near $107 per barrel.
No further details on casualties or long-term damage to the tanker have been released. This is the latest in a series of Iranian strikes on merchant shipping in the Gulf since the outbreak of the current war.