Emirati lawyer and commentator Dr. Habib Al Mulla stated in a video on August 15, 2026, that using an Emirati military force to escort ADNOC oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz is lawful under international law. The statement follows an August 8, 2026 missile attack by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps on an ADNOC tanker in the strait, which the UAE Foreign Ministry condemned as an act of piracy.
ADNOC reported that 15 of its vessels have been attacked during the ongoing war, resulting in one crew member’s death and 20 injuries. The August 8 strike was also condemned as a dangerous escalation by Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Gulf Cooperation Council.
Al Mulla’s video included an embedded post from former UAE Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr. Anwar Gargash, who stated that the targeting of ADNOC ships will not alter the UAE’s policy of caution, and that the country remains committed to freedom of navigation, dialogue, and rejecting militarized responses. No further details regarding the scale or timing of tanker escorts were provided in the post.