Crew casualties reported after attack in Omani waters
DUBAI: Two national tankers operating in the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz were struck by cruise missiles in Omani territorial waters early Tuesday, the UAE Ministry of Defence said, leaving one Indian crew member dead and eight others injured.
According to the ministry, six of the injured are Indian nationals, while two are Ukrainian citizens. Four of the wounded reportedly sustained serious injuries and are receiving medical treatment.
The ministry identified the damaged vessels as Mombasa and Al Bahiyah. Fires broke out aboard both tankers following the strikes, but emergency crews successfully brought the blazes under control.
The UAE strongly condemned the attack, describing it as a serious violation of international law. Officials said the country reserves the right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security and confirmed that its armed forces remain on high alert.
Iran, US exchange competing claims over shipping security
Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a separate incident northeast of Qalhat, Oman, where a tanker was struck by an unidentified projectile. Authorities said no injuries were reported in that attack.
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington had reinstated its blockade of Iranian shipping and pledged to ensure freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
In response, Iran’s senior military command rejected any US role in determining the future of the strategic waterway.
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for striking two “offending supertankers,” alleging the vessels ignored warnings, disabled their navigation systems, and attempted to transit through a mined route.
Elsewhere, Bahrain reported that its air defence systems intercepted aerial threats after warning sirens sounded across the country. Iranian media also claimed drones targeted US military facilities in Kuwait, although US Central Command dismissed those claims, calling them false.
