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The tanker remains operational as the company assesses the damage.
Reuters/File
The United Arab Emirates has condemned an attack on a Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker in the Arabian Gulf, warning that such incidents threaten maritime security and global energy supplies.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the attack on the Al Maayeda as a serious threat to commercial shipping and regional stability, according to the state news agency WAM.
The vessel is owned by Qatar Gas Transport Company, known as Nakilat, which reported that unidentified objects struck the tanker on Friday evening while it was sailing in the Arabian Gulf.
What did the UAE say about the attack?
The UAE Foreign Ministry said the incident posed a grave threat to maritime navigation and global energy supplies, while warning of potential environmental consequences.
It described the attack as a dangerous escalation that could undermine the security and stability of vital international waterways.
The ministry also expressed solidarity with Qatar and called for international law to be upheld, stressing the need to protect commercial vessels, energy tankers and their crews.
It said disruptions to maritime traffic and energy supplies must be prevented.
What happened to the Al Maayeda tanker?
Nakilat said unidentified objects struck the Al Maayeda on Friday evening as it sailed through the Arabian Gulf.
In a statement to the Qatar Stock Exchange, the company said no crew members were injured and the incident had caused no environmental damage.
The tanker remains safe and operational, with its systems under control, while an assessment of the damage is under way.
What is happening in the Strait of Hormuz?
The incident comes amid heightened maritime tensions in the region following the outbreak of war in February.
Iran has targeted vessels in and around the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic waterway connecting the Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and a key route for global oil and gas shipments.
Tehran has said ships must obtain its permission to transit the strait, as it seeks to assert greater control over maritime traffic through the waterway.
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