Qatar says an Iranian missile hit a tanker in its waters, with its military intercepting two other missiles in an escalating regional conflict.
DOHA: Qatar’s defence ministry stated on Wednesday that a tanker leased to its state-owned energy company was struck by an Iranian missile within Qatari territorial waters.
The ministry confirmed that Qatar was targeted by three cruise missiles launched from Iran, with its military successfully intercepting two of the projectiles.
The third missile struck the oil tanker, which was leased to QatarEnergy, according to the official statement.
Coordination with relevant authorities led to the evacuation of the tanker’s 21 crew members without any human casualties.
QatarEnergy identified the vessel as the Aqua 1, a fuel oil tanker, confirming it was the subject of a missile attack in Qatar’s northern waters early on Wednesday.
The company stated there were no injuries to crew and no environmental impact from the incident.
This attack is part of a series of repeated drone and missile salvos from Iran targeting Gulf countries over the past month.
Iran’s actions are a response to US and Israeli strikes that began at the end of February, targeting hydrocarbon infrastructure and shipping in the oil-rich region.
The conflict has effectively closed the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for one-fifth of global oil shipments.
Earlier reports from the British maritime security agency UK Maritime Trade Operations noted a tanker had been hit by a projectile off the coast of Doha.
The agency received a report of an incident 17 nautical miles north of Doha, where a tanker was hit on the port side, causing hull damage above the water line.