Iranian Forces Strike UAE Tankers in Hormuz Waters, Casualties Reported
UAE says Iran hit 2 of its – The United Arab Emirates announced on Monday that Iranian military forces launched an attack against two of its commercial vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz. The incident resulted in one fatality among the crew members aboard the targeted ships. According to official statements from the UAE Ministry of Defense, Iranian cruise missiles struck the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah tankers while they were traveling through the southern lane of this critical waterway, which falls within Omani territorial waters.
Casualties and Damage Assessment
The attack claimed the life of an Indian national serving on the Mombasa tanker, while eight additional crew members sustained injuries. Among those wounded, four suffered serious injuries requiring medical attention. The injured individuals consist of six Indian citizens and two Ukrainian nationals, according to the UAE defense ministry’s official report.
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 Emirati ministry further stated that it maintains the full right to respond to this escalation initiated by Tehran. The Hill has contacted both the Indian and Ukrainian embassies located in the United States to obtain their official comments regarding the incident.
IRGC Takes Responsibility for Attack
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps assumed responsibility for the maritime attack, declaring that it had struck what it described as “non-compliant” vessels. This announcement was reported by the Islamic Republic News Agency. Later on the same day, the IRGC additionally claimed to have targeted several facilities at an American military base in Bahrain, including weapons storage locations, a satellite communications center, and housing areas for U.S. military personnel.
U.S. Response and Naval Blockade Resumption
Iran has intensified its pressure on maritime shipping through the Strait of Hormuz over the past week, triggering a renewed phase of hostilities with the United States. President Trump announced on Monday that American naval forces would resume their blockade of Iranian ports. The president shared this decision on Truth Social, stating:
All other countries will have fair and open use of the Strait. The U.S.A. will be, from this point forward, known as ‘THE GUARDIAN OF THE HORMUZ STRAIT.’
Additionally, Trump declared that his administration would implement twenty percent tolls on vessels transiting through this strategic waterway. The International Energy Agency reported that nearly thirty-four percent of global oil supplies passed through the Strait in 2025.
Military Operations Continue
U.S. Central Command announced that it would restart the blockade of maritime traffic entering and departing Iranian ports beginning Tuesday at four o’clock in the afternoon Eastern Time. On Monday, Centcom also conducted strikes against Iran for the third consecutive night following the president’s directive.
These strikes will continue imposing a heavy cost on Iranian forces and degrade their ability to attack innocent civilians and commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The American military executed four distinct rounds of strikes against Iran during the previous week, targeting various military installations including air-defense systems, coastal radar stations, and missile and drone capabilities, according to Centcom reports.
Trump formally informed Congress last week about the resumption of U.S. military operations against Iran, with effects beginning July 7. This notification provides Centcom with an additional sixty days from the strike renewal to deploy American forces against Iran without requiring congressional approval.
Oil Markets React to Tensions
The ongoing exchange of military strikes between the United States and Iran has contributed to rising oil prices. Fuel costs had previously declined to prewar levels during late June and early July. As of Monday evening, Brent Crude oil, which serves as the international benchmark for crude pricing, had increased to eighty-four dollars and twenty-five cents per barrel.
