RIYADH, May 14 (NNN-Xinhua) — Saudi Arabia confirmed on Monday that two of its oil tankers were part of the sabotage attack on Sunday in the waters near the United Arab Emirates, off the coast of the emirate of Fujairah.
The Minister of Energy, Industry and Mineral Resources, Khalid Al-Falih, confirmed in a statement through Saudi Press Agency that the two oil tankers were attacked while on their way to cross into the Gulf.
The attack didn’t lead to any casualties or oil spill; however, it caused significant damage to the structures of the two vessels, the minister said.
He denounced this attack that aims to undermine the freedom of maritime navigation and the security of oil supplies to consumers all over the world.
The Saudi minister also emphasized the joint responsibility of the international community to protect the safety of maritime navigation and the security of oil tankers, to mitigate the adverse consequences of such incidents on energy markets, and the danger they pose to the global economy.
Meanwhile, an official source at the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed Saudi Arabia’s condemnation of the acts of sabotage.
The source stressed the solidarity of the kingdom and its stand alongside the UAE in all measures being taken to safeguard its security and interests.
NNN-Xinhua