The UAE Ministry of Defence on Tuesday said that its two national tankers, Mombasa and Al Bahiyah, were struck by two Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters. An Indian crew member was killed and eight others were injured amid rising tensions following fresh US attacks on Tehran. The injured include six Indians and two Ukrainians, with four reported to be in serious condition. Iran has also claimed responsibility for attacks on two super oil tankers with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) saying it struck the “offending” vessels.
Indian Crew Member Killed as Iranian Missiles Hit UAE Oil Tankers
In a statement, the UAE MoD said that the attack killed one Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa and injured eight others, including six Indian nationals and two Ukrainians, four of whom sustained serious injuries.
“The Ministry of Defence announces that the national tankers Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles while transiting the southern shipping lane of the Strait of Hormuz, within Omani territorial waters. The attack resulted in the death of one Indian crew member aboard the Mombasa tanker and the injury of eight others, including four who sustained serious injuries. The injured comprise six Indian nationals and two Ukrainian nationals. The attack also caused material damage to both tankers as a result of the fires that broke out on board, which have since been brought under control,” the post read.
تعلن وزارة الدفاع عن تعرض الناقلتين الوطنيتين (ممباسا) و (الباهية) للاستهداف بصاروخين جوالين إيرانيين في الممر الجنوبي لمضيق هرمز بالمياه الإقليمية العمانية.
وقد أسفر الاستهداف عن مقتل أحد أفراد طاقم الناقلة (ممباسا) من الجنسية الهندية، وإصابة 8 من بينهم 4 إصابات بليغة. (6 من… pic.twitter.com/KVz3qDu6kf
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) July 13, 2026
UAE Condemns Iran Attack, Warns of Response
Condemning the strike as a grave violation of international law, the UAE said it reserves the right to respond and has heightened its state of readiness to safeguard its security and national interests.
UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) also condemned and denounced the attack in the strongest terms.
“The Ministry extended its sincere condolences and sympathy to the family of the victim, as well as to the Government and people of the Republic of India, and wished all the injured a speedy recovery,” the statement read.
The Ministry emphasised that targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of “economic coercion” or “blackmail” constitutes an act of piracy and poses a direct threat to the stability of the region, its peoples, and global energy security.
“The UAE stressed the need for Iran to halt these unprovoked attacks, ensure its full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz in order to safeguard regional security and maintain the stability of the global economy and trade,” the UAE said.
US Strikes Back at Iran’s Bushehr Provinance
According to Iran’s Nour News, the US has taken out fresh strikes at areas of Bushehr province in southern Iran.
#WATCH | US President Donald Trump says, “We’re doing another very major attack tonight (on Iran). They want to make a deal. They came back. We made a deal 2 days ago… They’ve been negotiating for 47 years, but nobody’s ever hit them militarily. We’re hitting them very hard.”… pic.twitter.com/OSYuKNFQ8h
— ANI (@ANI) July 13, 2026
Trump said the US was launching another “very major attack” on Iran, while claiming Tehran had returned to the negotiating table. “We’re doing another very major attack tonight (on Iran). They want to make a deal. They came back. We made a deal 2 days ago,” Trump said. He added, “They’ve been negotiating for 47 years, but nobody’s ever hit them militarily. We’re hitting them very hard.”
US Retaliates After Iran Shuts Strait of Hormuz
This development follows renewed hostilities between the US and Iran after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) closed the Strait of Hormuz, which triggered American retaliatory strikes on 140 locations across Iran.
Concurrently, the United States announced that it will resume blockading maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports starting Tuesday evening.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump stated that the naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz would specifically target Iran, while allowing vessels from other nations to continue transiting through the strategic waterway.
Speaking to reporters after signing an Executive Order, Trump said the blockade would apply only to Iran and those doing business with Tehran.
Inputs from ANI
Also Read: The ‘Guardian’ Tax: Why Trump Plans To Impose 20% Transit Fee In Strait of Hormuz
Manisha Chauhan is a Senior Sub Editor with over three years of experience in digital journalism. She covers breaking news, national, international, and trending topics. With expertise in news writing, editing and SEO, she is committed to delivering accurate, engaging and reader-friendly content that keeps audiences informed.
