UAE defence ministry said on X that its forces had intercepted three missiles, with a fourth falling into the sea, after a drone attack on the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone sparked a blaze. Civil defence teams were deployed immediately to contain the fire, the Fujairah Media Office said in a statement, adding that three Indian citizens were moderately injured in the attack and taken to hospital.
The incident underscores the vulnerability of the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline, which bypasses the Strait of Hormuz to deliver crude to the Gulf of Oman. This has allowed the UAE to continue shipping oil to global markets even as the waterway remained under threat.
The attack follows a March 14 drone strike that hit the Port of Fujairah, causing fires and halting some oil-loading operations, and comes after a ceasefire that began on April 8, which had paused more than two months of intense fighting in the Gulf.
During the period of intense conflict, the UAE said it had intercepted and destroyed thousands of drones and missiles. UAE authorities on Monday issued mobile phone alerts in Dubai and Abu Dhabi warning of the possibility of missile attacks.
In a statement, the Fujairah Media Office said the blaze was contained quickly, while the UAE defence ministry noted that the intercepted missiles were part of a broader pattern of Iranian missile activity. The ministry also highlighted that the fourth missile crashed into the sea, reducing potential damage to the pipeline infrastructure.
Iran's Revolutionary Guards Navy issued a map it said showed an expansion of areas under Iranian control near the Strait of Hormuz, encompassing the UAE ports of Fujairah and Khorfakkan as well as the coast of the Umm Al Quwain emirate, Iranian news agencies reported.
Looking ahead, the UAE is likely to maintain heightened security measures around the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone and the pipeline, ensuring that global oil supply continuity remains intact despite regional tensions.
