Saudi Oil Tankers Attacked in Hormuz Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Tensions in the Middle East escalated Monday when two Saudi oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz. The attacks, which occurred just minutes apart, targeted the Saudi-flagged Sidr and the Liberian-registered Senegal Prosperity, both of which were loaded with 2 million barrels of Saudi oil.
The Sidr, operated by Saudi Aramco's Bahri shipping arm, took hits about 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. The Senegal Prosperity, run by South Korean operator Sinokor, was targeted by three projectiles roughly 17 nautical miles east of the same location.
The timing of the attacks is significant, as Saudi Aramco only resumed loading and selling oil from inside the strait in August. The Hormuz corridor has become increasingly volatile, with maritime risk firm Marisks flagging the incidents as evidence of 'further escalation in the threat environment within the Omani corridor.'
The attacks have sent shockwaves through the oil market, with prices jumping Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump signaled readiness to strike Iran again.