A tanker was struck by an “unknown projectile” 63 nautical miles west of Saudi Arabia's Yanbu on Monday, sparking a fire on its main deck, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said. All crew members were safe and no environmental impact was reported.
UKMTO WARNING 119-26
— UKMTO Operations Centre (@UK_MTO) August 24, 2026
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"The Company Security Officer reported a tanker has been struck by unknown projectile causing a fire to the vessel on the main deck," the advisory stated, adding that "all crew are safe and accounted for and no environmental impact has been reported."
UKMTO advised vessels transiting the area to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity to the agency.
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The incident took place amid growing concerns over attacks on shipping near Yanbu, a key Red Sea export hub that Saudi Arabia has increasingly relied on to move crude and oil products as the Strait of Hormuz remains disrupted amid the ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict.
Yemen's Houthi rebels have repeatedly claimed missile and drone strikes on tankers off Yanbu and in the wider Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in recent weeks, framing them as part of a blockade against Saudi Arabia, which they accuse of backing Washington's campaign against Iran.
The incident adds to disruptions caused by the standoff around the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil supply typically passes.
Saudi authorities have generally declined to confirm details of individual attacks on its vessels, though the kingdom has previously acknowledged strikes on its energy infrastructure and tankers amid the broader regional conflict.
UKMTO, which monitors commercial shipping across the region, has issued multiple similar advisories in recent months covering incidents off Yemen, Oman and the Gulf of Aden.
The incident adds to growing concerns over the safety of ships using key routes in the region, which could also affect oil supplies to countries such as India.
ALSO READ: Hormuz Tensions: Another Ship Hit By Unknown Projectile, Says UKMTO Centre
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