Cairo: A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 63 nautical miles west of Saudi Arabia's port city of Yanbu, leading to a fire on the vessel's main deck, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said on Monday.The UKMTO said all crew were safe and accounted for with no reported environmental impact.Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, where millions of barrels a day are loaded, and has become the main route out for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded by Iran.Also read: Saudi oil tanker heads to India as Red Sea, Hormuz traffic slows amid attacksShipping from Yanbu has itself faced disruption since Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Red Sea last month.The Houthis have carried out attacks on Saudi oil facilities and shipping in the Red Sea in recent weeks, and they claimed to have targeted Saudi oil giant Aramco facilities in Yanbu in July. There was no confirmation or comment from Saudi authorities.
UKMTO says tanker struck by unknown projectile off Saudi Arabia's Yanbu
A tanker sustained damage from an unknown projectile near Saudi Arabia's Yanbu port. The vessel experienced a fire on its main deck, but all crew members are safe. Yanbu serves as Saudi Arabia's primary Red Sea oil export hub. This incident follows recent disruptions and threats from Yemen's Houthi rebels. Saudi authorities have not yet provided any official comment on the event.
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