Oil tanker Blast in Saudi terminal, Saudi Arabia confirms.

 Thursday, November 26, 2020. A Greek-managed oil tanker has been attacked at the Saudi Arabian red sea terminal, about 125 miles north of the country's border with Yemen, according to the ship's owner. It was confirmed that the crew was safe and no injuries were reported.

A statement from state-run media, a Saudi-led coalition fighting the Houthis in Yemen said the oil ship had suffered minor damage in what it described as a "failed terrorist" operation.

The Athens-based TMS Tankers said the ship had left Malta and was "attacked in a far place" at the Saudi terminal after completing its departure and preparing to leave. The Agrari, an Aframax-class vessel capable of carrying about 700,000 barrels of oil, was docked 1 meter above the water line at the scene of the attack.

AyhamKamel, head of the Middle East and North Africa Eurasia Group, said there was an increase in attacks from Yemen on the Saudi Arabian border. To try to send signals to stop the passage and to give a chance to the Persian Gulf where Iran has the power to disrupt Saudi oil interests and maritime operations. However, this act appears to have been carried out by terrorist groups.

A few weeks ago a fire erupted near a floating platform belonging to the Jazan petrol station was contained without any injuries. The fire was another attempt by the Houthis to attack the object and was prevented by a Saudi-led coalition that destroyed two explosive-laden boats in the South Red Sea.

There was no immediate claim by the Houthis of this act. Houthi leader Muhammed Ali Houthi did not explicitly deny the attack on the oil tanker but said in a statement on his Twitter account that they were carrying out any military or security operation.

Saudi Arabia and the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen are embroiled in a bitter war. The Houthis have repeatedly attacked oil facilities in Saudi Arabia, while the Saudi air force has carried out a series of attacks on Houthi strongholds. There are indications that the ongoing tensions between Yemen and Saudi Arabia in recent days could lead to this attack.

The Saudi-led coalition in the fight against the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said on Tuesday it had destroyed five Houthi landmines in the Red Sea, according to Saudi state television Al-Ekhbariya. They also say the mines were manufactured in Iran. Officials also noted that Iranian-backed Houthi hostilities were endangering maritime security and maritime traffic.