Iran fired two cruise missiles at UAE national oil tankers in the southern passage of the Strait of Hormuz in the early hours of Tuesday, killing one Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa and injuring eight others, including four critically, as the fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran collapsed into its most intense exchange of fire since the war began in February.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed both national tankers, the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck while transiting the southern shipping lane within Omani territorial waters. The injured crew include six Indian nationals and two Ukrainians. Fires broke out on both vessels before being brought under control. The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attack as a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817 and said it was on the highest level of readiness to address any further threats.
The attack came hours after the US struck approximately 140 Iranian military targets overnight and Iran retaliated with drone and missile strikes on the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman simultaneously. Three people including a child were injured by shrapnel in Qatar. Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain.
Brent crude surged 2% to $85 a barrel on Tuesday, its highest level since April. Hormuz vessel crossings fell 52% week on week according to shipping data firm Kpler, as war risk insurance premiums spiked and operators paused decisions to transit the waterway.
