Two Filipino Sailors Killed in Strait of Hormuz Tanker Attack, Saudi Arabia Says

Saudi Arabia has condemned an attack on a Saudi-owned supertanker in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday night, which resulted in the deaths of two Filipino crew members. The Saudi national shipping company, Bahri, confirmed that its vessel, the Sidr, was involved in a security incident around 23:40 local time (19:40 GMT) while transiting the vital waterway. Bahri expressed its condolences over the loss of the two Filipino seafarers.

According to maritime security firms Marisks and Kpler, the Sidr was hit by unknown projectiles about 16 nautical miles northeast of Khasab, Oman. At roughly the same time, a South Korean-owned supertanker named Senegal Prosperity was reportedly struck by three projectiles approximately 17 nautical miles east of Khasab. Both vessels were carrying two million barrels of Saudi crude oil outbound through the strait. The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency also logged two incidents in those locations.

Conflicting Claims Surrounding the Incidents

Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry directly attributed the attack on the Sidr to Iran, while also condemning recent Iranian strikes on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait. Saudi officials urged an end to escalation and called for the protection of international navigation, national sovereignty, and global energy supplies.

Iran has not directly addressed the Saudi government's allegations. However, Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) stated that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while attempting to use an illegal route encouraged by the US military. Tehran maintained that it would not relinquish control over the waterway and has previously targeted ships utilizing a southern route through Omani territorial waters.

Broader Escalation and Regional Impacts

The strikes on the tankers coincided with a significant surge in military activity, including US air strikes on Iran and Iranian missile and drone attacks directed at US bases in neighboring Arab nations. Iranian health officials reported 18 deaths and 108 injuries from the US bombardment. Iranian officials also accused the US of a war crime following a strike in Sirik that killed four people, including two children at a wedding party; the US military stated it is investigating those reports.

The US military noted its recent strikes followed IRGC actions against commercial maritime traffic and American personnel. Despite ongoing tensions and attacks, US President Donald Trump declared the Strait of Hormuz open, with American forces assisting ships along the southern passage. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright noted that 17 million barrels of oil traversed the strait on Monday, marking a record daily volume since hostilities began in February.