Firestorm as drone attack shuts key Middle Eastern oil port | World | News
A drone strike and resulting fire forced the suspension of some oil loading operations at the United Arab Emirates’ Fujairah terminal on Saturday, according to industry and trade sources. The disruption in Fujairah, one of the world’s largest refueling hubs and a major crude export point, came just hours after the United States targeted Iranian military facilities at the Kharg Island oil terminal.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard later warned that American interests in the UAE, including ports, docks and military installations, could be viewed as legitimate targets. Located outside the Strait of Hormuz, Fujairah handles approximately one million barrels of the UAE’s Murban crude oil per day; This corresponds to approximately 1% of global oil demand.
An eyewitness reported seeing two plumes of smoke rising over the port area, but its direct impact on tanker loadings remained unclear.
RBC Capital analyst Helima Croft: “The IRGC is sending a message that there is no safe haven in this rapidly expanding conflict. The fact that this happened just hours after the US attacked Kharg Island signals that Tehran will not allow Washington to control and dominate the terms of escalation.”
Earlier in the week, the International Energy Agency warned that the world could face its biggest ever oil supply shock after US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28 effectively halted traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the vital channel along Iran’s coastline. Many regional producers, including the UAE, have already been forced to reduce production.
Iranian media reported on Saturday that Tehran had threatened further action against UAE ports and urged residents to stay away from Dubai’s Jebel Ali, Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa Port and areas near Fujairah.
The UAE foreign ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Iran’s accusations that the attack on Kharg Island was launched through the UAE.
Authorities in Fujairah said the fire broke out after debris fell during the interception of a drone. No injuries were reported.
The Emirates media office said civil defense teams were working to contain the flames, without confirming whether port operations had been suspended.
Abu Dhabi’s state oil company ADNOC, which operates facilities in the emirate, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Earlier this week, ADNOC also closed the Ruwais refinery after a separate drone strike sparked a fire within the complex, according to a source familiar with the situation; It’s the latest sign of increasing pressure on the region’s energy infrastructure amid escalating conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran.
