Saudi Oil Tankers Attacked in Strait of Hormuz

Two Saudi oil tankers were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday evening. The Sidr, a very large crude carrier flagged by Saudi Arabia, was struck by unknown projectiles about 16.6 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman, at around 1952 UTC (GMT). Approximately minutes later, the Liberian-flagged VLCC Senegal Prosperity was reportedly hit by three unknown projectiles approximately 17 nautical miles east of Khasab, also in the Strait of Hormuz.

The tankers were each carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi crude oil that had been loaded at the Juaymah terminal last week. The incident has further escalated tensions in the region, with efforts by mediators including Qatar and Oman to broker a deal to reopen the strait proving inconclusive. Oil prices have gained as US President Donald Trump threatened further strikes against Iran following the first exchanges of fire since late July.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway for global oil supplies, carrying about a fifth of global oil exports before the recent blockades by Iranian and US forces. The attacks on the tankers have raised concerns about the safety of shipping in the region and the impact on global energy markets.