Saudi Arabia Condemns Iranian Attack on Oil Tanker in Strait of Hormuz

Saudi Arabia has condemned an Iranian attack on the Saudi-flagged crude oil tanker M/V SIDR in the Strait of Hormuz, which resulted in the deaths of two Filipino seafarers.

The incident occurred late on Monday, August 31, 2026, as the vessel was attempting to traverse the Strait of Hormuz. The tanker, owned by Saudi national shipping company Bahri, was struck by still unknown projectiles, which ignited a fire that was subsequently contained by the crew. The bodies of the two deceased Filipino crew members have been transported to Oman, while the 14 surviving crew members are safe and awaiting repatriation with assistance from Omani authorities. Department of Migrant Workers Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac confirmed the fatalities and issued directives for the immediate repatriation of the crew and comprehensive assistance for the bereaved families.

DMW Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac stated, "Unfortunately, meron tayong dalawang tripulanteng nasawi, as a result of the attack."

The Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized, "The kingdom stressed the necessity of halting escalations, and respecting international maritime safety and the security of global energy supplies."

The precise nature of the projectiles used in the attack remains unconfirmed. While Saudi Arabia and other nations attribute the attack to Iran, Iran official response or explicit acknowledgment of responsibility is not detailed in the provided sources.

Iran Revolutionary Guards claimed that two oil tankers caught fire after striking mines while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting a different cause or denying direct targeting. However, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, and Jordan explicitly condemned the incident as an Iranian attack.

This incident is part of a series of attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz attributed to Iran, contributing to a known death toll of at least 18 seafarers in commercial shipping incidents in the region since the conflict escalated earlier this year. Dozens of ships have been attacked by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz since the war with the United States began over six months ago.

The Philippine government, through the Department of Migrant Workers, is actively providing assistance to the families of the deceased seafarers and coordinating the repatriation of the survivors. The Department of Migrant Workers has also reiterated its warning against deploying Filipino seafarers through the Strait of Hormuz, which is designated as a war-like, high-risk zone. The August 31, 2026 attack intensifies regional geopolitical tensions and poses a threat to global energy supplies, prompting Saudi Arabia to call for de-escalation and adherence to international maritime safety protocols.