Qatari Commercial vessel targeted by drone strike in local territorial waters
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- A commercial cargo vessel traveling from Abu Dhabi was struck by a drone northeast of Mesaieed Port early Sunday.
- The attack caused a small fire but resulted in no casualties or serious damage to the ship's integrity.
The Qatari Ministry of Defense announced on Sunday, that a commercial cargo vessel was targeted by a drone while navigating Qatari territorial waters.
The vessel, which was arriving from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, was located northeast of Mesaieed Port at the time of the attack.
According to the official statement, the strike resulted in a "limited fire" on the deck of the ship.
Crew members were able to bring the blaze under control quickly, and no injuries were reported among the personnel.
Following the incident, the vessel was able to safely continue its journey and dock at Mesaieed Port under the supervision of the relevant authorities.
Qatar condemned
The Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement on Sunday, condemning the drone attack on a commercial cargo ship within its territorial waters as a "flagrant violation" of international law and the principle of freedom of navigation.
Describing the strike as a "dangerous and unacceptable escalation," the Ministry emphasized that maritime security is a fundamental pillar of regional stability and must not be compromised under any circumstances.
Doha called on the international community to take a firm stance against such acts of sabotage that threaten global trade routes and regional peace.
Escalation in the Persian Gulf
The attack comes amid a volatile security environment in the Gulf. Maritime tracking agencies, including the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), confirmed the incident occurred approximately 23 nautical miles off the coast of Doha.
This strike is part of a series of regional escalations on Sunday:
Kuwaiti incursion: Just hours earlier, the Kuwaiti military reported detecting and "dealing with" hostile drones in its own airspace.
Diplomatic context: The attacks occurred as Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani met with high-level US officials in Miami to discuss mediation efforts and regional stability.
