The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) confirmed that four commercial ships were “subjected to sabotage operations” on 12 May East of Fujairah, near UAE territorial waters in the Gulf of Oman.
MOFAIC released a statement calling on the interantional community “to assume its responsibilities to prevent such actions by parties attempting to undermine maritime traffic safety and security.”
Saudi Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih confirmed that two Saudi oil tankers were among those attacked off the coast of Fujairah while passing through to the Arabian Gulf, through a statement by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). One vessel was heading to the KSA port of Ras Tanura to be loaded with crude oil which was destined for the US.
The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) issued a statement noting that an official source at the KSA Ministry of Foreign Affairs “stress[ed] the solidarity of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its stand alongside the UAE in all measures being taken to safeguard its security and interests.”
The SPA statement noted that the attack “didn’t lead to any casualties or oil spill,” though it damaged the two vessels. Al-Falih “emphasised the joint responsibility of the international community to protect the safety of maritime navigation and the security of oil tankers, to mitigate against the adverse consequences of such incidents on energy markets, and the danger they pose to the global economy,” the statement wrote.
MOFAIC refuted rumours that any incidents took place within the Port of Fujairah, and noted that operations at the port “were underway as normal, without any interruption.”
Many Arab countries condemned the attacks.
