Iran struck oil tanker in Qatar, Defence Ministry said forces intercepted 2 of 3 cruise missiles
&imwidth=600&imheight=450&format=webp&quality=medium "Iran struck oil tanker in Qatar, Defence Ministry said forces intercepted 2 of 3 cruise missiles")
Iran struck oil tanker in Qatar, Defence Ministry said forces intercepted 2 of 3 cruise missiles Photograph: (Credit: AFP/File photo)
The Qatari Defence Ministry confirmed that an Iranian cruise missile struck the Aqua 1 oil tanker today. While two other missiles were successfully intercepted, the strike near Ras Laffan marks a significant escalation in the regional conflict. No casualties have been reported.
Amid the ongoing West Asia war, Qatar stated that a tanker leased to its state-owned energy company was struck by an Iranian missile in the country's territorial waters on Wednesday (Apr 1). The Qatari Ministry of Defence announced that their armed forces “successfully intercepted two of the cruise missiles, while the third missile struck an oil tanker”.
Gulf countries have faced repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran over the past month in response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February. Iran has targeted hydrocarbon infrastructure in the oil-rich Gulf nations as well as shipping, effectively closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of global oil usually passes.
QatarEnergy said in a statement the Aqua 1, a fuel oil tanker, had been "the subject of a missile attack in the northern territorial waters of the State of Qatar in the early morning hours of Wednesday".- It confirmed no crew members had been injured and there was "no impact on the environment as a result of this incident".
Also read: West Asia War: Why Iran is targeting UAE but letting Abu Dhabi oil pass on 'friendly' ships
According to the British marine security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the incident occurred 17 nautical miles north of Doha.
The agency later said "the vessel was struck by two projectiles" north of Ras Laffan, the world's largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) hub.
Trending Stories
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
)
)
)
"One projectile caused a fire, which was extinguished, and another "remains unexploded within the vessel's engine room", UKMTO said.
Private security firms Ambrey and Vanguard also reported unexploded ordnance within the tanker's engine room, adding that authorities were investigating. Earlier, UKMTO said the tanker had been "hit by unknown projectile on the port side causing damage to the hull above water line".
(With agency inputs)
