ADNOC vessel targeted by missile in Strait of Hormuz, no injuries reported

A vessel operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company was struck by a projectile while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway that serves as the single most important bottleneck for global crude shipments. No crew members were injured, and the company said the situation was brought under control. The incident adds to a mounting toll that underscores just how dangerous one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes has become. ADNOC, the UAE’s state-owned energy giant, has disclosed that 15 of its vessels have been hit by drones or missiles since the current regional conflict escalated, killing one crew member and injuring 20 others. A pattern, not an isolated event The latest strike follows a trajectory that has been building for months. On May 4, the ADNOC-operated crude tanker Barakah was hit by two drones while passing through the strait. The vessel was empty at the time, which meant no cargo loss. By early August, the pace had quickened. ADNOC reported three separate attacks on its ships in a single week, part of a broader campaign that the UAE government has publicly condemned as a series of unprovoked assaults. The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of serious...