- An Indian crew member died and eight others were injured in missile attacks on UAE tankers
- Two Iranian cruise missiles struck UAE tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah in the Strait of Hormuz
- UAE Defense Ministry condemned the attack as a violation of international law and a security threat
One Indian crew member was killed and eight others were injured after Iran attacked two UAE national tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, in a major escalation following fresh US strikes on Tehran. The injured included six Indians and two Ukrainians, with four of them suffering serious injuries.
Iranian cruise missiles hit the tankers, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, as they were passing through the southern shipping lane of the strategic waterway in Omani territorial waters.
In a statement, the UAE Ministry of Defence condemned the strike as a serious violation of international law and a threat to regional security and stability.
It said, "The UAE reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, its citizens and residents, in a manner that safeguards its sovereignty, security, and stability, and protects its national interests."
The ministry further said it remains on the highest level of readiness and preparedness to address any threats and is taking all necessary measures to respond decisively to any attempt to undermine the country's security and stability.
Fresh Strikes On Iran
The latest attacks come as Iran and the US compete for control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of global crude oil and natural gas supplies once moved in peacetime. Brent crude oil rose 7.8% to $81.92 a barrel. While lower than the almost $120 reached during the war, the increase could lead to higher prices worldwide.
In a post on social media, US Central Command said American forces had started another series of military strikes targeting Iran.
"These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz," the US military said.
Trump also provided new details on his administration doing an about-face and suggesting it will charge tolls for ships going through the strait, after previously suggesting that it wouldn't.
"We're protecting a very rich portion of the world," he said. "We're spending money. And so, what we've done is, we are going to be reimbursed for protection," the US President said.
(With inputs from agencies)
