A commercial cargo vessel coming from Abu Dhabi was struck by a drone on Sunday morning off the coast of Doha, the Qatari Defense Ministry confirmed in an afternoon statement, confirming an earlier report from the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The incident sparked a small fire, which was extinguished, the ministry said, noting that no injuries were reported.
After the fire was put out, the ship continued its journey toward Mesaieed Port to dock.
Shortly after the strike, Iranian Army Spokesperson Mohammad Akraminia told Iran's Tasnim news agency that vessels from countries that comply with US sanctions against Iran would face difficulties crossing the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian lawmakers have said they are drafting a bill to formalize Iran's management of the Strait of Hormuz, with clauses including forbidding passage to vessels of "hostile states."
Qatari tanker crosses through Hormuz
On Saturday night, ship-tracking data showed that the Qatari tanker, Al Kharaitiyat, would move to break through the naval blockade imposed by Iran.
Al Kharaitiyat was filled at the Ras Laffan plant earlier this month and is currently believed to be in transit between Oman and Iran, with Pakistan as its destination.
If successful, this fuel transit would be Qatar's first export from the region via the Strait since the start of the Iran War.
Qatar, one of the world's largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas, has made numerous other attempts to transit the Strait of Hormuz during the blockade; however, its ships have been forced to return each time.
Shortages resulting from the blockade have sent shockwaves through the global market, with oil prices soaring worldwide. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has called this the "largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market."