Two Iranian drones targeted an UAE tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz, according to the UAE Defence Ministry. The attack struck the MV Barakah, an empty oil tanker operated by ADNOC Logistics & Services, with no injuries reported.
What happened in the Strait
The incident occurred on May 4, 2026, amid what has become a dangerously volatile stretch in the Persian Gulf. The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the assault a “terrorist attack” and an act of “piracy,” while emphasizing that it violated international maritime law and multiple UN Security Council resolutions.
UAE air defense systems were also active during the same period, intercepting multiple ballistic and cruise missiles from Iran, with some injuries reported in those separate engagements.
The military escalation follows a ceasefire from April 2026 that has effectively collapsed, with rising tensions and US naval deployments aimed at deterring further Iranian aggression in the region.
