YANBU, SAUDI ARABIA — A tanker was struck by an unknown projectile 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu on August 24, producing a fire on the main deck.
All crew members were accounted for and safe. No environmental impact was reported. Vessels were advised to transit the area with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The location lies in the northern Red Sea, within Saudi waters near the kingdom’s principal Red Sea crude-export terminal.
The incident follows the Houthi-declared maritime blockade of Saudi ports that began July 20 and a series of earlier projectile strikes on Saudi-linked tankers in the same theater, including the August 5 Houthi claim of a strike on the Saudi-flagged NCC Wafa off Yanbu.
No claim of responsibility has been issued by any party as of 8:15 a.m. UTC August 24. No statement from Saudi authorities, the vessel’s flag state, or the reporting Company Security Officer identifying the tanker had been released at that time.
