Iran strikes tanker off Qatar coast as Tehran’s attacks on Gulf states persist
FILE – A traditional dhow boat sails towards the West Bay in Doha, Qatar
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Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
01/04/2026 – 14:17 GMT+2
Qatar said it had intercepted two Iranian cruise missiles, while a third struck a fuel tanker off its coast. All 21 crew members were safely evacuated, with no injuries or environmental damage reported.
A cruise missile struck an oil tanker off the coast of Qatar early Wednesday after Iran launched three missiles toward the country, according to the Qatari Ministry of Defence.
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Air defences intercepted two of the incoming missiles, while the third hit the vessel in Qatar’s northern territorial waters. The tanker, identified as the Aqua 1, was operating under contract to QatarEnergy.
Despite the strike, authorities said the situation was quickly brought under control. All 21 crew members onboard were evacuated safely, and no casualties were reported. Officials also confirmed there was no environmental damage following the incident.
In a statement, QatarEnergy said the attack happened in the early hours of 1 April and stressed that operations were not affected.
Defence officials added that coordination with relevant agencies ensured a swift response.
The attack comes less than two weeks after Iranian missiles caused “extensive damage” to Ras Laffan Industrial City, Qatar’s main energy hub.
Qatar shares the world’s largest natural gas reserve with Iran, making the region critical to global supply.
Ras Laffan is the world’s largest liquefied natural gas export facility, and disruptions there are already being felt. QatarEnergy has said the earlier strikes put pressure on an already volatile global market.
