Two Filipino seafarers have been killed in an Iranian attack on a Saudi-owned vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, the Philippine Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday, adding to the mounting human toll from attacks on commercial shipping in the strategic waterway. The vessel, Sidr, is owned by Bahri, Saudi Arabia’s national shipping company.
The incident occurred at approximately 11.40pm local time on Monday, Bahri said. The company expressed its “deepest condolences and sincere sympathies” to the families, relatives and colleagues of the two Filipino seafarers, and said it was providing full support to those affected.
“The safety and well-being of Bahri employees remain at the top of its priorities,” the company said, adding that it remained committed to operating in accordance with the highest standards of safety, security and environmental protection. The deaths came as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) issued a separate warning over the dangers of navigating the Strait of Hormuz, saying two oil tankers had struck sea mines and been disabled while attempting to transit the waterway.
According to the IRGC, the tankers were forced to evacuate their crews and were subsequently placed under the control of US operatives after attempting to use what it described as an “illegal route” through the strategic passage. The Guards’ navy had previously warned vessels against crossing the mined area, the statement said.
The latest incident underscores the growing risks facing commercial shipping and civilian crews navigating the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical energy corridors. The waterway carries a significant share of global oil and gas supplies, making any disruption a major threat to maritime trade and energy markets.