A vessel operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company came under attack in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, the third such incident involving an ADNOC ship in less than a week. No injuries were reported, and the UAE has accused Iran in the two earlier attacks. Separately, a UK maritime authority reported a projectile strike on another vessel in the strait, and President Trump defended the extended deployment of the USS Abraham Lincoln in the region.
Third Incident in a Week
A vessel operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company came under attack while transiting the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, marking the third incident involving an ADNOC ship in less than a week, Reuters reported. No injuries were reported, and ADNOC said the situation was brought under control, according to a Saturday statement carried by the UAE's state news agency WAM.
The UAE has accused Iran of carrying out the two earlier attacks, though Emirati officials had not publicly assigned responsibility for Friday's incident at the time of the report.
Oil Chokepoint Under Pressure
The Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway between Iran and Oman, handled about one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments before the current conflict. Shipping through the strait has faced repeated disruption since the US-Israeli war with Iran began on February 28, pushing crude oil freight rates higher and increasing risks for energy exports.
Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Organisation reported Saturday that a vessel in the strait was struck by an unidentified projectile, occurring amid a fragile truce between the US and Iran that has been repeatedly compromised. Prediction-market pricing on whether Hormuz traffic returns to normal by September 30 has fallen to 13.5% YES odds.
Aircraft Carrier Deployment Defended
President Trump rejected concerns over the length of the USS Abraham Lincoln's deployment in support of military operations against Iran. According to Investing.com, Trump told reporters Friday: "Not nearly long enough", when asked whether the carrier's deployment of more than 260 days had become excessive.
The carrier left San Diego in November before being redirected to the Middle East, carries about 5,000 sailors and Marines, and has gone more than 200 days without a port visit. Trump said the Lincoln would move shortly and would be replaced by a similar vessel.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal said the deployment represented a modern record for consecutive days at sea, and several Democratic lawmakers have sought answers after sailors' families raised concerns about mental health, living conditions, and supplies aboard the ship. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth rejected reports of worsening conditions on Thursday, saying they had been misrepresented.
Sources: Economy News, Crypto Briefing
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