Iran attacks fully loaded Kuwaiti oil tanker at Dubai port; spill risk flagged

Iran hit a loaded crude oil tanker anchored in Dubai port on Monday, causing it to catch fire and damaging the hull, Kuwait’s state news agency said, citing Kuwait Petroleum Company. The company also warned of a possible oil spill. The incident appears to be the latest in a series of attacks on commercial shipping in the Gulf and Strait of Hormuz involving missiles and explosive air and sea drones, following a February 28 attack by the United States and Israel on Iran.KUNA news agency quoted Kuwait’s state-owned oil company as reporting: “This Kuwaiti giant crude oil tanker was directly and maliciously attacked by Iran in the anchorage area of ​​Dubai Port in the United Arab Emirates.”Authorities in Dubai said they were dealing with a drone attack on an oil tanker in local waters, and maritime firefighting crews were working to control the blaze. Officials said there were no reports of casualties and all 24 crew members were safe, Reuters reported.Iran has not yet commented on the attack.Two unidentified projectiles landed in the water near the container ship about 22 nautical miles (40.7 kilometers) northeast of Ras Tanura at 1352 GMT, Reuters reported, citing a representative of the Liberian-flagged Rome Express.The two incidents occurred about an hour apart and all crew members were safe, according to British maritime risk management firm Vanguard Group.Vanguard added that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had previously claimed responsibility for the March 11 attack on the Rome Express.