Business & Economics
Iranian Drone Hits Fully-Loaded Kuwaiti Tanker ‘Al Salmi’ off Dubai amid Hormuz Blockade
In the early hours of 31 Mar 2026 an Iranian drone struck the Kuwait-flagged VLCC Al Salmi at Dubai’s Anchorage-E, igniting but quickly containing a fire while Washington simultaneously threatened to destroy Iran’s oil infrastructure unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.
Focusing Facts
- The tanker was carrying roughly 2 million barrels of Kuwaiti-Saudi crude worth >$200 million when hit at 00:10 local time; all 24 crew unharmed and the blaze was declared out by Dubai authorities within hours.
- Brent crude briefly jumped to about $113 / bbl (≈4 % intraday) after the attack, the highest level since the war began on 28 Feb 2026.
- UKMTO lists this as the 28th maritime security incident—16 classified as attacks—since the Hormuz closure five weeks earlier.
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