Two UAE oil tankers attacked in the Strait of Hormuz
UAE Condemns Iranian Attack on ADNOC Vessels in Strait of Hormuz
The United Arab Emirates has condemned in the strongest terms the attack on two vessels belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a hostile act by Iran.
ADNOC announced that the two vessels were targeted on the evening of Thursday, August 13, noting that there were no casualties and the situation has been brought under control. Emphasizing the importance of ensuring the safety of seafarers and guaranteeing the freedom of navigation, the company urged the public to rely solely on official sources and refrain from spreading rumors or unverified information. ADNOC did not disclose the names of the vessels, the type of cargo, or the extent of the damage.
In a statement released by the country's official news agency (WAM), the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the act as a flagrant violation of UN Security Council Resolution 2817, which underscores the freedom of navigation and rejects the targeting of commercial ships and the disruption of international maritime routes. Abu Dhabi added that targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool for pressure or economic blackmail constitutes piracy by the Revolutionary Guard Corps and poses a direct threat to regional stability, its people, and global energy security. It called on Iran to cease the attacks and fully and unconditionally reopen the strait.
Last night's attack occurred less than a week after a similar incident. In the early hours of Saturday, August 8, an ADNOC tanker was targeted by a missile, which the company stated was the 16th attack on its vessels since the start of the war on February 28. A day earlier, it was reported that 15 ADNOC ships had been targeted by missiles and drones while passing through the strait, including three in that week alone; those attacks claimed the life of one crew member and injured 20 others. According to a CNN report, 64 ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz have been attacked by Iran since the beginning of the war, resulting in 17 sailors killed and 35 injured.
