An Iranian strike targeted the fully loaded Kuwaiti crude oil tanker Al Salmi near Dubai early Tuesday, igniting a fire on board and escalating concerns over the region’s oil security. The incident followed a warning from U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) confirmed that the Al Salmi was attacked while at anchor in a United Arab Emirates port, resulting in fire damage to the vessel. The company notified authorities of the potential for an oil spill, as reported by Kuwaiti news agency KUNA.
Later, Dubai authorities announced that emergency teams succeeded in extinguishing the fire, which they attributed to a drone strike. They stated there were no injuries among the crew and that no oil had leaked into the waters. KPC indicated that efforts are underway to evaluate the extent of the damage to the ship.
The vessel, capable of transporting approximately 2 million barrels of crude oil—valued at over $200 million at prevailing prices—was fully laden at the time of the assault. The attack triggered a brief surge in global crude oil prices.
Rising fuel and oil costs have started to impact U.S. consumers, posing political challenges for President Trump and the Republican Party as they approach the midterm congressional elections. This issue is highlighted by the administration’s pledges to curb energy costs and ramp up domestic production.
The assault on Al Salmi forms part of a pattern of attacks on ships involving missiles or drones in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz since the onset of the U.S. and Israeli conflict with Iran on February 28.
