Saudi Arabia Blames Iran for Attack on Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of attacking an oil tanker owned by its national shipping company in the Strait of Hormuz, resulting in the deaths of two Filipino sailors. The incident occurred on Monday at 23:40 local time (2040 GMT) while the vessel, Sidr, was transiting the narrow waterway.

The Saudi foreign ministry stated that the kingdom stresses 'the necessity of halting escalations and respecting international maritime safety and the security of global energy supplies.' Bahri, the owner of the vessel, said it is coordinating closely with relevant authorities and maritime industry stakeholders while continuing to monitor developments.

This incident is not an isolated event. In July, another Bahri vessel, Wedyan supertanker, was hit while passing through the strait close to Oman's coast. Additionally, two other Bahri vessels, Masa and Amzan, were attacked in the Red Sea in July and August after the Iran-backed Yemen's Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.