Two tankers operated by Abu Dhabi’s state-owned energy company ADNOC were struck by drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday evening, prompting the United Arab Emirates to accuse Iran of piracy and direct maritime threats against global energy security amid ongoing regional conflict.
The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry placed direct blame on Iran for the Thursday evening assault, characterizing the operation as a flagrant violation
of international freedom of navigation principles. According to the reporting from AP News, two vessels operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company suffered minor damage during the transit through the critical waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to open oceans.
ADNOC Vessel Attacks Draw Piracy Accusations from UAE Officials
Despite the hostile action, the corporate operator confirmed that no personnel injuries occurred during the Thursday evening event. Official statements relayed via the United Arab Emirates state news agency WAM emphasized that the situation has been brought under control.
Military monitoring services in the region corroborated that two separate vessels sustained minor damage from incoming drones, aligning with the timing and location reported by the energy company.
Strategic Importance and Shifting Maritime Security Pressures
The narrow maritime corridor between Oman and Iran historically carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas. Since hostilities between the United States, Israel, and Iran intensified on February 28, commercial shipping through the strait has experienced continuous disruption, driving up freight rates and heightening security anxieties across global energy markets.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps has previously issued warnings targeting vessels navigating the passage if those ships maintain connections to Tehran’s adversaries or fail to follow local directives. While Iranian authorities offered no immediate response to the accusations from Abu Dhabi, regional analysts note that the waterway remains a primary flashpoint as the broader conflict persists.
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