A fuel oil tanker chartered by QatarEnergy has been targeted in a missile attack in the northern territorial waters of Qatar, marking the third maritime incident in the region within 24 hours.
The vessel, Aqua 1, was struck by two projectiles approximately 17 nautical miles north of Doha. One caused a fire—since extinguished—while the second lodged in the engine room and is currently under investigation.
Despite the damage to the vessel’s hull above the waterline, no crew injuries or environmental impact have been reported, according to official statements.
Security sources indicated that the attack may have involved a drone, reflecting an escalation in the methods used to target commercial shipping in the region.
The incident follows a series of attacks, including a strike on the Kuwait-flagged VLCC Al Salmi near Dubai and a near miss involving the container ship Express Rome off Saudi Arabia.
Maritime security agencies warn that the surge in attacks underscores growing instability in the Arabian Gulf, a critical corridor for global energy and trade flows.
