ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday held a telephone conversation with Saudi Arabia Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud.
The premier condemned, in the strongest possible terms, the Houthi militia’s attacks against Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. Such actions are unacceptable, violate international law, threaten freedom of navigation, and undermine regional peace and security.
“I reaffirmed Pakistan’s complete solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and conveyed that I, together with Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and the entire Pakistani nation, stand firmly and resolutely with the Saudi leadership and the brotherly people of the Kingdom at this critical time,” he wrote in a post on X.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and I agreed to continue working very closely to maintain regional peace, security, stability, and the uninterrupted flow of lawful maritime commerce through the Red Sea as well as the Strait of Hormuz and the wider region.
It comes after Yemen’s armed forces said they have hit two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea and intercepted multiple commercial vessels.
A spokesperson confirmed the development in an official statement.
The Transport General Authority (TGA) of Saudi Arabia confirmed the incident stating that that the vessel ENCELIA, owned by a Saudi company, was targeted while sailing in the Red Sea, resulting in a fire at the bow of the vessel.
It confirmed the safety of all crew members and that all relevant authorities have taken the necessary measures to secure the vessel and its crew and protect the marine environment.
These attacks constitute a violation of international laws and conventions that guarantee the safety of commercial vessels and their crews.
On the other hand, the Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said one of three oil tankers caught fire after explosion when they attempted to navigate the mined southern corridor of the Strait of Hormuz.
The IRGC Navy has reaffirmed that the Strait of Hormuz remains firmly under Iranian control and will stay completely sealed for as long as US provocations persist, no tanker will be allowed passage, IRNA reported.
