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The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said two of its vessels came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on the evening of August 13, according to a statement relayed by the UAE state news agency WAM. ADNOC reported that no crew members sustained injuries during the incident and that the situation was promptly brought under control. The company stressed the importance of safeguarding seafarers along with freedom of navigation and maritime security in the vital passage. ADNOC also called on the public to seek information exclusively from official channels and to avoid circulating unverified accounts or rumours.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned what it termed a hostile Iranian attack on the two ADNOC-affiliated vessels, describing the action as piracy and a serious threat to global energy security in an official statement. This episode marks the second such incident involving ADNOC vessels in the strait within a week. On August 8, authorities attributed a missile strike on a separate ADNOC tanker in the same waterway to Iran, with that event likewise resulting in no casualties according to Reuters reporting.
The Strait of Hormuz constitutes one of the world’s primary oil transit chokepoints. Figures from the US Energy Information Administration show that total oil flows through the strait averaged 20.9 million barrels per day during the first half of 2025. That volume represented approximately 20 percent of global petroleum liquids consumption over the period.
ADNOC had earlier indicated that 15 of its vessels had been targeted by missiles or drones while navigating the strait since the beginning of recent regional conflicts, a detail noted in coverage of the prior incident by Reuters. The latest attack occurs against a backdrop of heightened tensions that have already disrupted maritime traffic in the area on multiple occasions. Gulf states have repeatedly voiced concern over the security of these routes that supply energy markets worldwide.
UAE officials reiterated the need to maintain safe passage through the strait in the wake of the August 13 event. The ministry’s statement underscored that such incidents endanger not only regional stability but also international trade flows dependent on the waterway. No additional specifics regarding the method of attack or any vessel damage were released in ADNOC’s initial confirmation.
