Iran: Oil tanker struck by missiles in Red Sea, heavy damage reported

A Iranian oil tanker was attacked off the coast of of Saudi Arabia near Jeddah, Iranian media reports.

By World Israel News Staff and Associated Press

Two missiles struck an Iranian oil tanker traveling through the Red Sea near Saudi Arabia on Friday, Iranian media reports.

Iran’s PressTV says the explosion happened 60 miles off the coast of Jeddah on the Red Sea at around 5:00 a.m. local time.

The missiles caused substantial damage and to the hull and an oil leak into the Red Sea, the Iranian website reports.

There was no immediate word from Saudi Arabia on the reported blast.

The oil tanker is named SINOPA, formerly known as Susangird.

Lt. Pete Pagano, a spokesman for the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet overseeing the Mideast, said authorities there were “aware of reports of this incident,” but declined to comment further.

The reported explosion comes after the U.S. has alleged that in past months Iran attacked oil tankers near the Strait of Hormuz, at the mouth of the Persian Gulf

Tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia reached a new peak last month when a major Saudi oil installation was struck. Houthi rebels took credit for the attack but Saudi Arabia, the U.S. and others say Iran attacked the installation directly with cruise missiles.

Iran denies it attacked any oil tankers or facilities.