Saudi Arabia has accused Iran of carrying out an attack on a tanker operated by national shipping company Bahri, killing two Filipino crew members in the Strait of Hormuz.
The Bahri-owned Sidr was one of two supertankers carrying Saudi oil that were reported to have been hit late on Monday while passing through the strategic waterway.
Context: Strait of Hormuz Intelligence File · Strait of Hormuz shipping guide · Strait of Hormuz · Red Sea
Bahri said the two seafarers died in a security incident involving Sidr at 23:40 local time, or 20:40 GMT, on Monday. The company did not provide further details about the circumstances of the incident or the condition of the vessel.
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Operational context
“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 shipping company said.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry called for an end to the escalation and emphasised the need to protect maritime navigation and energy flows. The ministry said the kingdom stressed the importance of respecting international maritime safety and safeguarding global energy supplies.
The incident comes amid heightened threats to commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran has warned tankers against navigating the narrow passage without authorisation, disrupting energy exports from Gulf producers.
Before the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas trade passed through the Strait of Hormuz. The latest reported attacks add to concerns over the safety of vessels and crews using one of the world’s most important energy shipping routes.
Bahri vessels have been involved in several other recent security incidents. In July, the company’s supertanker Wedyan was hit while transiting the strait near the coast of Oman. Two additional Bahri vessels, Masa and Amzan, were attacked in the Red Sea during July and August.
Those Red Sea incidents followed the declaration of a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. The series of attacks has exposed Bahri’s fleet to security risks in both the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, two critical corridors for Saudi energy exports.