Conflict & Security
Tanker on fire off Saudi Arabia after hit, UKMTO says
A tanker caught fire off Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast on Monday after its company security officer reported it had been struck by an unknown projectile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations said.
UKMTO said the projectile caused a fire on the vessel's main deck. All crew were safe and accounted for, and no environmental impact had been reported, the agency said.
The incident took place 63 nautical miles west of the Saudi city of Yanbu, UKMTO said. Yanbu lies hundreds of kilometres north of Yemen.
British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech said a Saudi-flagged vessel had been hit by a missile and caught fire.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking Saudi ships after declaring a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month. Responsibility for the tanker incident was not confirmed.
Update
British maritime security firm Vanguard Tech said a Saudi-flagged vessel had been hit by a missile and caught fire.
Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have been attacking Saudi ships after declaring a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia last month.
Yanbu is hundreds of kilometres north of Yemen.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 08:35:54 UTC.
Update
UKMTO said all crew were safe and accounted for.
UKMTO said no environmental impact had been reported.
The incident took place 63 nautical miles west of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia.
UKMTO said the fire was on the vessel's main deck.
Source note: AFP news report published on 24 August 2026 at 07:57:43 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The projectile was described by UKMTO as unknown.
Responsibility for the tanker incident has not been confirmed.
UKMTO did not report an environmental impact, but the final environmental assessment is not established.
Source
AFP news report published on .