One Indian killed, six injured as Iranian missiles target two UAE tankers in Hormuz

One Indian crew member was killed and six others were injured after two UAE-flagged tankers were struck by Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters, the UAE Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.

According to the ministry, the tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were hit by two Iranian cruise missiles, triggering fires and causing material damage to both vessels. The fires have since been brought under control.

The attack killed one Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa and injured eight people in total — six Indian nationals and two Ukrainians. Four of the injured sustained serious injuries.


Also read: Trump says US will be 'guardian' of Strait of Hormuz, impose 20% cargo levy

Calling the strike a "grave violation" of international law, the UAE said it reserved the right to respond and had raised its state of readiness to protect its security and national interests.

The UAE Ministry of Defence condemned the attack as a "serious violation" and a "clear breach" of international law that threatens regional security and stability. It said the UAE reserved the right to respond to the escalation and take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens, residents and national interests.

It said targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of "economic coercion" or "blackmail" amounted to piracy and posed a direct threat to regional stability and global energy security.

It urged Iran to immediately halt what it described as unprovoked attacks, commit to a ceasefire, and ensure the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to safeguard regional security and global trade.

The incident comes amid renewed hostilities between the United States and Iran following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which prompted US retaliatory strikes on 140 locations across Iran.

Also read: Iran says latest US strikes have 'rendered futile' recent diplomacy

Separately, the United States announced it would resume a naval blockade of maritime traffic entering and leaving Iranian ports from Tuesday evening. US President Donald Trump said the blockade would be aimed at Iran and entities doing business with Tehran, while vessels from other countries would continue to be allowed to transit the strategic waterway.

(With inputs from ANI)