March 31, Dubai – A major attack occurred on a large Kuwaiti oil tanker docked at Dubai Port in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Following the incident, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil rose by 3.4 percent in international markets.
According to Kuwait’s official news agency, Kuna, the giant tanker named “Al-Salmi,” anchored in the harbor, was directly targeted in the assault.
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) strongly condemned the attack as “criminal” and warned of the potential risk of an oil spill in the sea.
The company reported that the tanker was fully loaded with crude oil at the time of the attack and sustained damage. Videos circulating show the vessel on fire; however, no human casualties have been reported thus far.
According to Dubai Media Office, maritime fire control teams are actively working to contain the blaze. “Dubai authorities responded immediately to the drone attack on the Kuwaiti tanker anchored in Anchorage ‘E’. Fire containment and situation management are currently ongoing following established procedures,” the statement read.
Additionally, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), operated by the British military, confirmed the incident, noting that the vessel was attacked approximately 31 nautical miles (57 kilometers) northwest of Dubai. Initial reports do not confirm any environmental impact from the attack.
This attack marks the latest in a series of maritime assaults targeting commercial vessels in the Gulf region and the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, following military actions against Iran by the United States and Israel beginning February 28.
The incident has triggered noticeable repercussions in the international oil market. Bloomberg reported that the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil increased by 3.4 percent, surpassing $106 per barrel. Notably, on Monday alone, WTI had already risen above $100 per barrel for the first time since 2022.
