Iran Accused of Attacking Saudi-Owned Supertankers in Strait of Hormuz
The Strait of Hormuz has become a hotbed of tension in the Middle East after two Saudi-owned supertankers were attacked by projectiles, killing two Filipino seafarers and leaving seven crew members unaccounted for.
On September 7, 2026, Oman's Maritime Security Centre announced that it had successfully evacuated 16 crew members from the Sidr, a Saudi-owned supertanker owned by Bahri. The rescue operation took place after the vessel was targeted by Iran in a missile or projectile attack near the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
The Sidr was one of two supertankers carrying Saudi oil that were hit by projectiles approximately two nautical miles northwest of Oman's Musandam Governorate. The incident has sparked outrage among regional leaders, who have widely condemned the event and accused Iran of targeting commercial energy fleets in a blatant violation of international law.
The attack on the Sidr is part of a larger shadow war between the US and Iran, which has seen a series of recent military strikes against Iranian 'shadow network' oil tankers in the Gulf of Oman. The ongoing conflict has effectively choked the Strait of Hormuz, through which nearly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas passes.