A Kuwaiti-owned crude oil tanker was hit by an Iranian drone strike while anchored at Dubai port on Monday night, causing a fire that was extinguished by early Tuesday. The vessel, Al Salmi, is owned by Kuwait's state oil company and was loaded with crude oil. Dubai authorities confirmed no injuries or oil leak occurred, and all 24 crew members were safe.
Hundreds of seafarers on nearby tankers witnessed the blaze. One crew member told the Guardian, 'Our officers on the bridge saw the explosion happen at around midnight. When I came on to the bridge hours later, the fire was still ongoing.' The crew reportedly extinguished the fire themselves before tugboats arrived, with the blaze lasting around three hours.
In response, dozens of tankers have left the area to avoid further attacks. 'There's no safe place here, not really,' the seafarer said. 'Around us, I see dozens of other loaded tankers. I really don't know how this is going to be resolved.'
The attack came hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran's energy infrastructure if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices surged, with Brent crude rising above $118 a barrel. The incident has heightened fears for civilian maritime workers trapped in the conflict zone.
