India Calls Attack in UAE's Fujairah 'Unacceptable' After Three Nationals Wounded

New Delhi: India called the Iranian drone strike on the Fujairah oil facility in the United Arab Emirates "unacceptable" on Tuesday (May 5), with the Ministry of External Affairs demanding an immediate end to hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure after three Indian nationals were wounded in the attack.

"The attack on Fujairah that resulted in injury to three Indian nationals is unacceptable," MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement. "We call for immediate cessation of these hostilities and the targeting of civilian infrastructure and innocent civilians."

The statement also called for "free and unimpeded navigation and commerce through the Strait of Hormuz in keeping with international law," and said India "stands ready to support all efforts for a peaceful resolution of issues."

India's statement did not name Iran. New Delhi has avoided directly naming Tehran in most of its official statements on the conflict since the war began on February 28 when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran.

The Indian embassy in Abu Dhabi said on Monday that three Indian nationals had been injured in the attacks on Fujairah. "We are in touch with local authorities for ensuring adequate medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationals," the embassy said on X.

According to the Khaleej Times, the three Indians sustained “moderate” injuries after the drone strike ignited a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, a strategically significant energy hub that allows the UAE to export oil through the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.

The attack came on the first day of what the Trump administration has called 'Project Freedom', a US military operation to escort merchant ships through the strait, which Iran has kept effectively closed since early in the conflict. The US military said two American-flagged merchant ships successfully transited the strait on Monday under naval escort. Iran has said the operation is a violation of the fragile ceasefire between the US and Iran that took hold in early April.

The UAE said its air defences engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones fired from Iran on Monday. The UAE foreign ministry described the strikes as "renewed treacherous Iranian aggression." Four missile alerts were issued to UAE residents on Monday, the first since the ceasefire began. Commercial planes bound for the UAE turned around midair.

Iran did not directly confirm or deny the attacks. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that both the US and the UAE "should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire." Iranian state television quoted an unnamed military official as saying Tehran had had "no plan" to target the UAE or its oil fields, and that the incident "resulted from U.S. military adventurism to create an illegal passage."

Monday's attacks on the UAE were the first since the ceasefire and marked a significant escalation. Since the start of the war, UAE air defences have engaged a total of 549 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,260 drones from Iran, according to the UAE defence ministry. The cumulative toll stands at 227 injured across dozens of nationalities and three dead.

India's strong reaction reflects its relationship with the UAE, arguably its closest partner in the Gulf. 

The two countries upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2017,  during Modi's visit to Abu Dhabi, and bilateral trade crossed USD 100 billion, making the UAE India's third-largest trading partner. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed have cultivated a close personal rapport, with frequent visits and calls. 

 The UAE is home to roughly 3.5 million Indian nationals, the largest expatriate community in the country. India's energy security is critically dependent on the Strait of Hormuz, through which the bulk of its crude oil, liquefied natural gas and fertiliser imports from Gulf producers transit. 

Modi's first phone call with any head of state after the war began on February 28 was to Sheikh Mohamed on March 1, when he "strongly condemned" attacks on the UAE and expressed solidarity, but without naming Iran.

Indian seafarers have been among the worst affected by the maritime crisis. At the International Maritime Organization's extraordinary session in London in March, India's representative said three Indian nationals had been killed since the conflict began, four were injured and one was missing. He said roughly 23,000 Indian seafarers had been impacted by the crisis.

(With inputs from AP)

The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.