The EU naval force has revealed a Saudi Arabian tanker attacked by Yemen’s Houthi militia on Tuesday was a Bahri VLCC.
The 303,000-dwt Abqaiq (built 2002) was en route from Ras Tanura in Saudi Arabia to Ain Sukhna in Egypt when it was targeted.
The Houthi group, aligned with Iran, had earlier said it had attacked a tanker off the port of Hodeidah in response to a coalition air strike that killed at least 12 civilians there on Monday.
The coalition said the tanker was in international waters when it came under attack. A missile is believed to have been used.
“As a result of that attack, the tanker was subjected to a slight but ineffective hit and it resumed its naval course northwards, escorted by a coalition warship,” a statement said.
The attack could complicate a new United Nations attempt to end a war that has killed more than 10,000 people.
Saudi energy minister Khalid Al Falih said on Wednesday the incident would have no impact on oil supplies.
Bahri has not commented.
