Saudi oil tanker attack kills two Filipino sailors in Strait of Hormuz

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia on Wednesday said an Iranian attack on an oil tanker operated by its national shipping company killed two Filipino seafarers in the Strait of Hormuz.

The vessel, Sidr, is owned by Saudi shipping company Bahri and was one of two supertankers carrying Saudi crude that were reportedly attacked late Monday while transiting the strategically important waterway.

The Saudi Foreign Ministry said the kingdom condemned the attack and stressed the need to prevent further escalation and ensure the safety of international maritime navigation and global energy supplies.

Bahri said the two seafarers were killed in a security incident involving Sidr at around 11:40am local time on Monday.

“Bahri remains in continuous contact with the vessel and is coordinating closely with the relevant authorities and maritime industry stakeholders, while continuing to closely monitor developments,” the company said.

Tensions rise in Strait of Hormuz

The latest incident comes as Iran has threatened tankers attempting to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without authorisation, disrupting energy shipments from oil-rich Gulf countries.

Before the outbreak of the latest conflict, around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the narrow waterway.

The disruption has raised concerns over the safety of commercial shipping and the impact of continued attacks on global energy supplies.

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Bahri vessels targeted previously

The Sidr incident is not the first attack involving Saudi-owned Bahri vessels in the region.

In July, another Bahri supertanker, Wedyan, was hit while sailing through the Strait of Hormuz near Oman’s coast.

Two other Bahri vessels, Masa and Amzan, were attacked in the Red Sea in July and August after Iran-backed Houthi forces in Yemen announced a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities have called for restraint and respect for international maritime law, warning that continued attacks could further threaten shipping and global energy security.