Drone attacks claimed by Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels shut down one of the kingdom's main oil pipelines on Tuesday, further ratcheting up Gulf tensions after the mysterious sabotage of four ships, two of them Saudi tankers Riyadh: Saudi Arabia, the world's top crude exporter, said on Wednesday that attacks on two of its tankers and a major pipeline targeted the security of global oil supplies. Drone attacks claimed by Iran-aligned Yemeni rebels shut down one of the kingdom's main oil pipelines on Tuesday, further ratcheting up Gulf tensions after the mysterious sabotage of four ships, two of them Saudi tankers, on Sunday. "The cabinet affirms that these acts of terrorism and sabotage... Do not only target the kingdom but also the security of world oil supplies and the global economy," it said after a meeting chaired by King Salman in the Red Sea city of Jeddah on Tuesday evening. Tuesday's drone strikes hit two pumping stations on the kingdom's east-west pipeline, which can carry five million barrels of crude per day and provides a strategic alternative route for Saudi exports if the shipping lane from the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz is closed. Yemen's Huthi rebels claimed responsibility for the strikes and said they were a response to "crimes" committed by Saudi Arabia and its allies during more than four years of war in support of the government. The Saudi tankers Al-Marzoqah and Amjad suffered "significant damage" in as yet unexplained sabotage attacks in the Sea of Oman off the United Arab Emirates on Sunday, Energy Minister Khalid al-Falih said, but there were no casualties or oil spill. An Emirati official said three Western countries —the US, France and Norway— would be part of an investigation into the ship attacks along with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The ships—which also included a he Norwegian tanker and an Emirati vessel—were docked in the sea off the coast of the emirate of Fujairah.<doc-sep>TWO Saudi oil tankers were hit by a "sabotage attack" off the United Arab Emirates, it was announced this morning - as tensions flare between the US and Iran. The ships were struck off the coast of the port of Fujairah - with one of the tankers due to be loaded with Saudi crude oil bound for the United States. 4 Two oil tankers were hit by a 'sabotage attack' off the coast of the UAE - with one of the ships bound for America (stock photo) Credit: AFP or licensors 4 Tensions have been rising since American intelligence uncovered Iranian plans to disrupt US interests in the region Credit: Alamy Live News 4 Saudi energy minister Khalid Al-Falih said the ships both sustained 'significant damage', but did not give details about the nature of the attack Credit: Reuters US B-52 bombers arrive in Middle East to counter ‘credible threat’ of Iran missile strike Saudi energy minister Khalid Al-Falih revealed the tankers suffered "significant damage" - although it was unclear what the attack involved. He said: "Fortunately, the attack didn't lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels." Trading and shipping sources identified the Saudi ships as Bahri-owned very large crude carrier (VLCC) tanker Amjad and crude tanker Al Marzoqah. A huge US naval presence has built up in the Gulf over recent days amid a fevered standoff between Washington and Tehran. US intelligence revealed Iran was on the verge of carrying out offensive action to disrupt and attack American and partner interests in the region. It led to the deployment of US aircraft carriers, Patriot missiles and B52 bombers over recent days. RISING TENSION On Friday, a senior Iranian cleric said the US fleet could be wiped out "with a single missile". And the hardline Iranian Revolutionary Guard said it was not prepared to enter into talks with President Donald Trump - who had called for negotiations over ending Iran's nuclear programme. Just minutes before the sabotage attack was revealed today, the US Maritime Administration warned shippers to exercise caution when travelling past Fujairah. The general-secretary of the Gulf Cooperation Council described the sabotage as a "serious escalation" in an overnight statement. MOST READ IN NEWS 'GOBSMACKED' Queen 'gave Harry OK for Oprah series after misleading pitch about soldiers' ROD LIDDLE Ousting right-on National Trust boss is a victory against wokery DRUMMER DEAD School Of Rock star dies at 32 after being hit by car as Jack Black mourns HOUSE ABOUT IT You won't believe what this ordinary London home looks like on the inside Exclusive TOM'S LEGACY Captain Tom Moore — who raised £39m for charity — left family £73k in will JABS HOPE Scientists 'crack cause of blood clots linked to Covid jabs & know how to fix it' Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani said: "Such irresponsible acts will increase tension and conflicts in the region and expose its peoples to great danger." Earlier this month, the Maritime Administration warned that U.S. commercial ships including oil tankers sailing through key Middle East waterways could be targeted by Iran in one of the threats to U.S. interests posed by Tehran. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman called the incidents on Sunday to ships near the coast of Fujairah "worrisome and dreadful", and asked for an investigation into the matter. 4 US sends Patriot missile-defence system to Middle East amid escalating tensions with Iran We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.<doc-sep>Saudi Arabia on Monday said two oil tankers were damaged significantly in a “sabotage” attack over the weekend near the Strait of Hormuz, intensifying the spotlight on the waterway — the world’s biggest potential choke point for global crude shipments. A Norwegian-flagged vessel was also damaged, according to reports. Details surrounding the incident remain unclear, but it comes at a time of already heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran following Washington’s decision to reimpose sanctions on Tehran. The United Arab Emirates said the alleged attack on Sunday targeted four ships off the coast of the port city of Fujairah, which lies about 85 miles (140 kilometers) south of the Strait of Hormuz. See:Two Saudi oil tankers damaged in ‘sabotage’ attack Gulf officials have declined to name possible suspects, but the U.S. has warned sailors that “Iran or its proxies” could be targeting maritime traffic in the region, the Associated Press reported. Oil futures US:CLM9 UK:LCON9 soared early Monday, with traders citing the attack as a factor for the rally. Crude gave up those gains, however, turning lower as a global equity selloff tied to an escalating tariff battle between Washington and China sent U.S. stocks tumbling, leaving the S&P 500 SPX, +0.19% down 2.6% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +0.03% down by around 700 points at its lowest point on Monday. Read:Dow, S&P 500 set for worst May tumble in nearly 50 years amid U.S.-China trade clash Here’s a look at the Strait of Hormuz and why it’s so important to the global crude-oil market. Where is the Strait of Hormuz? The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow waterway that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. At its narrowest point, the waterway is only 21 miles wide, and the width of the shipping lane in either direction is just 2 miles, separated by a two-mile buffer zone. Why is it important? Oil tankers carrying crude from ports on the Persian Gulf must pass through the strait. Around 18.5 million barrels a day of crude and refined products moved through it in 2016, nearly a third of all seaborne-traded oil and almost 20% of all oil produced globally, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That makes the Strait of Hormuz the world’s most sensitive oil transportation choke point. What’s the threat? Iranian officials last month threatened to interrupt the flow of oil through the strait after the Trump administration said it would end waivers that allow countries to import Iranian oil. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, in early May, said the country had no interest in escalating tensions with the U.S., according to Iranian news agency Tasnim. He said Tehran viewed the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz as “our lifeline” and wanted them “safe, secure and free for navigation of all countries, including Iran.” The U.S. last week announced it was sending an aircraft carrier group, bombers and a Patriot antimissile battery to counter what the Trump administration said were “clear indications” that Iran and its proxies were preparing to possibly attack U.S. forces in the region, the AP reported. That’s in addition to the presence of the U.S. Fifth Fleet, which is based in Bahrain. Could Iran close the strait? The Fifth Fleet’s presence had already cast doubt on Iran’s ability to close the waterway, analysts said. The U.S. naval presence would make it extremely difficult for Iran to choke off traffic, “but they could once again engage in provocative military maneuvers—such as having their speedboats harass U.S. vessels,” wrote Helima Croft, global head of commodity strategy at RBC Capital Markets, in a research note last month. She said a change in the leadership of the Revolutionary Guards, following the U.S. decision to formally declare the IRGC a terrorist organization, “could signal that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei wants to pursue a more muscular response to his adversaries.”<doc-sep>
Crude oil tanker Amjad, which was one of two reported tankers that were damaged in mysterious “sabotage attacks”, off the coast of the Gulf emirate of Fujairah. (Photo: AFP) Fujairah (UAE): Saudi Arabia said on Mon-day two of its oil tankers were damaged in mysterious “sabotage attacks” in the Gulf as tensions soar-ed in a region already sha-ken by a standoff between the United States and Iran. It came as US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo scrapped a planned visit to Moscow to head to Bru-ssels instead for talks with EU officials on Iran. Tehran called for an investigation into the “alarming” attacks and warned of “adventurism” by foreign players to disrupt maritime security. Britain warned of the danger of conflict erupting “by accident” in the Gulf. The US has already strengthened its military presence in the region, including deploying a number of strategic B-52 bombers in response to alleged Iranian threats. Saudi Arabia, the Isla-mic republic’s regional arch-rival, condemned “the acts of sabotage which targeted commercial and civilian vessels near the territorial waters of the United Arab Emirates”, a foreign ministry source said. “This criminal act constitutes a serious threat to the security and safety of maritime navigation and adversely impacts regional and international peace and security,” the source added. The UAE said on Sunday that four commercial vessels of various nationalities were targeted by acts of sabotage off the emirate of Fujairah. Saudi energy minister Khalid al-Falih said the two tankers suffered “significant damage” but there were no casualties or oil spill. Neither Saudi Arabia nor the UAE gave details on the nature of the attacks. The UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, Anwar Gargash, said the Emirates will probe the “deliberate sabotage” of the ships. “The investigation will be conducted in a professional manner, the facts will be made clear, and we have our own readings and conclusions,” he tweeted. Fujairah port is the only Emirati terminal located on the Arabian Sea coast, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz, through which most Gulf oil exports pass. Iran has repeatedly threatened to close the strait in case of a military confrontation with the US. One of the two tankers that was attacked was on its way to be loaded with crude oil from a Saudi terminal for customers in the US, Falih said. Oil prices rose on world markets on Monday with benchmark Brent North Sea crude up 1.8 per cent at $71.90 a barrel in London.