'Unknown projectile' sets tanker on fire off Saudi Arabia's Yanbu
Holidaymakers swim as ships cross the Gulf of Suez toward the Red Sea at al Sokhna beach in Suez, Egypt, Aug. 10, 2026. (AP Photo)


A tanker was hit by an unknown projectile around 63 ⁠nautical miles west off Saudi Arabia’s port of Yanbu, sparking a fire on its main deck, the U.K. Maritime Trade Operations said Monday.

The UKMTO said all crew were safe and accounted for with no reported environmental impact.

Yanbu is Saudi Arabia's main Red Sea oil port, where millions of ⁠barrels ⁠a day are loaded and has become the main route out for Saudi oil skirting the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blockaded by Iran.

Shipping from Yanbu has itself faced ⁠disruption since Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis declared a blockade on Saudi-linked vessels in the Red ​Sea last month.

The Houthis have carried ​out attacks on Saudi oil facilities and shipping ⁠in ‌the ‌Red Sea in recent ⁠weeks and they ‌claimed to have targeted Saudi oil ​giant Aramco facilities ⁠in Yanbu in July. There ⁠was no confirmation or comment ⁠from ​Saudi authorities.