UAE tugboat hit by explosion, sinks in Strait of Hormuz; 3 Indonesian crew missing

Jakarta foreign ministry says Musaffah 2 caught fire, four crew members survived; security firm reports boat was hit by two missiles as it assisted missile-hit tanker

JAKARTA, Indonesia — Three Indonesian crew members are missing after the United Arab Emirates-flagged tugboat Musaffah 2 suffered an explosion and sank in the Strait of Hormuz on Friday, Jakarta’s foreign ministry said in a statement Sunday.

There have been numerous attacks on vessels as Tehran targets ships in the vital Strait of Hormuz between its shores and Oman in response to the US-Israeli war with Iran, which started on February 28.

The Musaffah had seven crew members from Indonesia, India, and the Philippines, the ministry said, adding that four survived and three others, all Indonesians, are missing.

Before it sank, the boat experienced an explosion that caused it to catch fire, the statement said, adding that an investigation is ongoing by local authorities.

The security firm Vanguard said the tugboat was struck by two missiles while attempting to provide assistance to the Malta-flagged container ship Safeen Prestige.

That ship was struck by a missile on Wednesday, Vanguard said in a statement.

“One Indonesian survivor is currently receiving burn treatment at a hospital in the city of Khasab, Oman. The other three Indonesians are still being searched for by the local authorities,” the Indonesian ministry said.

Another Indonesian national was at the location of the incident, but now on a different vessel and is currently safe, the statement added.

A navy vessel is seen sailing in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway through which much of the world’s oil and gas passes on March 1, 2026. (Sahar AL ATTAR / AFP)

The US and Israel launched strikes on Iran to destroy its nuclear and ballistic missile development capabilities. Israel has called on Iranians to throw off the Islamic regime, and the US has indicated it would also welcome such a development.

Iran has responded with missile and drone attacks on multiple Middle East countries that host US bases, and also on Israel. The country’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has vowed to close the Strait of Hormuz by attacking ships.

The conflict has already led to the suspension of around a fifth of global crude and natural gas supply, as Tehran targets ships and attacks energy infrastructure across the region.

The biggest question for energy supplies is how and when the Strait of Hormuz will become safe for shipping again. US President Donald Trump has offered naval escorts to oil tankers and promised US insurance support to vessels in the region.

But safety in the waterway may be elusive, as Iran has the capacity to keep up drone attacks on shipping for months, intelligence and military sources have said.