Tanker Struck by Two Projectiles Off Saudi Coast as Gulf Attacks Reach 10 in Three Days

A tanker travelling southeast through the Arabian Gulf was struck by two unidentified projectiles on its port side late on Sunday, 72 nautical miles east of Ras Al Khafji in Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said on Monday.

All crew members were accounted for and no environmental impact had been reported, UKMTO added. The agency did not name the vessel and did not say who was responsible. It advised ships to transit with caution and report suspicious activity while authorities investigate.

UKMTO Warning 192-26, issued on November 2, records the attack at 23:47 UTC on November 1. The tanker's name, flag, cargo and ownership have not been publicly established, and no attacker or weapon type has been identified.

A weekend of incidents at sea

The Ras Al Khafji strike was the latest in a fast run of attacks on shipping. Maritime reports counted at least six incidents on October 31, three on November 1 and one more on November 2, spread across the Strait of Hormuz, the Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, for a total of 10 in three days.

Earlier on Sunday, at 15:09 UTC, a passing merchant vessel relayed a Mayday call on VHF Channel 16 reporting that another vessel had been struck by an unidentified projectile inside the Strait of Hormuz. Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified that vessel as Selat Storm, an offshore tug and supply vessel, and reported that it was partially sinking. UKMTO has not independently identified the vessel, and the condition of its crew remains unclear.

On Friday evening, October 30, the LNG carrier Al Mayeda, owned by Qatar's Nakilat, was hit by unidentified objects while transiting the Arabian Gulf. Nakilat said no crew member was injured, there was no impact on the environment, and the vessel stayed safe and operational while the impact was assessed. Qatar condemned the attack and said its authorities had opened an investigation. The United Arab Emirates condemned the attack on Monday, calling it a serious threat to maritime security and global energy supplies.

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said on Sunday that they had hit two crude tankers that they said used an unauthorised southern route through Hormuz with their tracking transponders switched off. The vessels were not identified, and that claim remains unverified.

Talks continue while tankers are hit

The attacks came as Iranian and Qatari officials held a third day of talks in Doha on a deal to end the war between Iran and the United States and Israel. Iran has proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz within two days if the United States meets its conditions.

Oil prices fell on Monday despite the attacks. Brent futures dropped 3.3 percent to 109.70 dollars a barrel and United States crude futures fell 3.4 percent to 100.58 dollars, as traders weighed the talks against the risk to shipping.