Kuwait has strongly condemned an attack on the liquefied natural gas tanker Al-Mayeda, owned by Qatar Gas Transport Company (Nakilat), as the vessel was transiting the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

In a statement, Kuwait's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the country's firm rejection of such acts, warning that they pose a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and to global energy supplies.

The ministry stressed the need to respect international law and to guarantee freedom of navigation as well as the safety of ships and their crews. It cautioned that targeting energy carriers carries potential environmental and economic risks, and could have serious repercussions for the security and stability of the region.

The ministry also underlined the importance of uncovering the circumstances of the incident, identifying those responsible and holding them to account. The statement did not identify who carried out the attack, nor did it give details of any damage to the tanker.

Kuwait reaffirmed its full solidarity with Qatar, describing it as a brotherly nation. The ministry said Kuwait stands by Doha and supports all measures it takes to protect its security and interests and to safeguard its facilities and property.