The Strait of Hormuz has once again become a flashpoint in the Middle East, with recent attacks on oil tankers escalating tensions between regional powers. On Monday night, two supertankers, the Saudi-owned Sidr and the South Korean-owned Senegal Prosperity were struck by unknown projectiles while transiting the strait. These incidents have drawn condemnation from Saudi Arabia and raised concerns about the security of global energy supplies.
The Saudi national shipping company Bahri confirmed on Wednesday that its vessel, Sidr, was involved in a security incident while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The incident occurred at around 23:40 local time (19:40 GMT) on Monday, resulting in the loss of two Filipino seafarers. Bahri expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased, highlighting the human cost of the escalating tensions in the region.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
The Sidr was hit by projectiles north of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula according to maritime security firms. The Senegal Prosperity was reportedly struck east of Musandam around the same time. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency also reported two incidents in the same locations, emphasizing the severity of the situation.
Iran has not responded to the Saudi allegation directly. However, it stated earlier that two tankers had caught fire after hitting mines while using an unauthorized route through the strait. The Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed that the tankers sought to transit via an illegal route before striking mines and exploding. The vessels were reportedly on fire, according to the IRGC statement.
Regional and International Reactions
The Saudi foreign ministry condemned what it described as an Iranian attack on the Saudi tanker Sidr. The ministry also condemned recent Iranian attacks on Jordan, Bahrain, and Kuwait, stressing the need to halt escalation and respect the security and safety of international navigation. The ministry’s statement underscored the importance of global energy supplies and national sovereignty.
The incidents come amid a backdrop of heightened military tensions between the United States and Iran. On Wednesday, Iran’s health minister reported that 18 people were killed and 108 injured in US attacks. Iran has accused the US of a ‘war crime’ over a strike that killed four people, including two children, at a wedding party in the southern city of Sirik. The US military stated it was looking into the reports.
The Broader Context
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway through which a fifth of global oil and gas shipments usually pass, has been effectively closed since the start of the US and Israel’s war with Iran in February. The closure has been due to Iranian missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels and a US blockade of Iranian ports. A preliminary agreement to end the war and reopen the strait in June collapsed within weeks after the Iranian attacks on shipping resumed and the US reinstated its blockade.
Despite the Iranian attacks, US President Donald Trump has declared that the strait is ‘open,’ and the US military has been helping ships navigate the southern route. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright reported that 17 million barrels of oil flowed through the Strait of Hormuz by ship on Monday, a record daily total since the start of the war.
The recent attacks on the Sidr and Senegal Prosperity have raised concerns about the security of maritime routes in the region. The incidents highlight the ongoing tensions and the need for international cooperation to ensure the safe passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
