RPG Strikes Tanker 78 Miles Off Saudi Arabia as Houthi Tensions Boil
UKMTO reports oil tanker hit by rocket-propelled grenade northeast of Al Jubayl, crew safe but damage unknown.
An oil tanker was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) fired from a small boat 78 nautical miles northeast of Al Jubayl, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed on Saturday. The vessel sustained damage to its aft port quarter, though its crew escaped unharmed, according to the advisory.
The UKMTO reported the incident occurred on Friday, with the tanker’s master confirming the attack and subsequent damage. While the crew was declared safe, the full extent of the vessel’s structural damage and any potential environmental impact remained unknown at the time of reporting. The advisory did not disclose the tanker’s name, flag, or the nationality of its crew, nor did it provide details about the attackers beyond the use of an RPG.
A separate UKMTO report noted a second incident involving an unknown projectile striking a tanker 68 nautical miles northeast of Jubail on the same day. In that case, all crew members were evacuated safely, and no environmental damage was reported.
Attack Details and Immediate Aftermath: Saudi Arabia
The attack comes amid a sharp escalation in hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Houthi group. Earlier this week, the Houthis announced a large-scale missile and drone campaign targeting Saudi infrastructure, including Aramco facilities in Dhahran, King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, and an Aramco refinery in the capital. Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea claimed the operation involved “a large number of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones” and resulted in “damage and fires” at the targeted sites.
«The operation targeted Saudi Aramco facilities in Dhahran, in the Eastern Province, King Khalid International Airport and an Aramco refinery in Riyadh.»
Yahya Sarea·Houthi military spokesperson
Escalating Regional Tensions and Houthi Claims
Sarea framed the strikes as retaliation for Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on Houthi-held areas, including the Yemeni capital, Sanaa. He alleged the coalition had conducted 2,281 air and missile strikes since the latest escalation began, though these claims could not be independently verified. The UKMTO, meanwhile, made no mention of a direct link between the tanker attack and the Houthi operation.
The UKMTO has urged vessels operating in the region to exercise extreme caution and report any suspicious activity immediately. Investigations into the attack are ongoing, though no further details about the attackers or their motives have been released.
For mariners, the advisory serves as a stark reminder of the volatile security environment in the waters off Saudi Arabia.
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