UAE oil tanker attacked in the Strait of Hormuz

A tanker owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) was struck by an unmanned drone on Friday evening, August 14, 2026, while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incident follows a separate strike reported on Thursday, August 13, by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which resulted in minor damage to an undisclosed vessel. ADNOC confirmed that there were no injuries among the crew and that the situation remains under control. This marks the third attack on an ADNOC-affiliated vessel within a single week, adding to a series of escalating strikes in this critical waterway.

The region remains highly volatile following a blockade of Iranian ports by the U.S. and a de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran, initiated in March in response to regional military conflicts. These repeated attacks have contributed to the collapse of the April ceasefire. While the UAE has previously pointed to Iran as the responsible party for such incidents, the company did not assign specific blame for this latest attack. Concerns are growing that these persistent strikes on oil and gas transport vessels could significantly impact global energy trade and influence the future decisions of international shipping operators.