London: A tanker caught fire after being struck by an unknown projectile off the coast of Saudi Arabia in the Red Sea, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed on Wednesday, as maritime security concerns intensified in the region.

According to a UKMTO advisory, the incident occurred about 70 nautical miles (130 km) southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in the southern Red Sea.

The UKMTO said there were no reported casualties or environmental damage, and that an investigation into the incident is underway.

The attack was reported around the same time that Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility for a military operation targeting two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea.

The Houthis had announced a maritime ban on Saudi-linked vessels two days earlier, citing what they described as "Saudi Arabia's long-running blockade on areas under its control."

The latest incident has heightened concerns over security along the Red Sea shipping route leading to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, raising fears that disruptions already affecting the Strait of Hormuz could spread to another critical global maritime chokepoint.

Shipping analytics firm Kpler said vessel traffic through both the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait dropped sharply on Tuesday as security conditions worsened.

The firm also reported several confirmed vessel U-turns near the Gulf of Aden following Houthi threats against Saudi-linked shipping, indicating that shipping operators are becoming increasingly cautious.

Kpler warned that continued attacks around the two strategic maritime chokepoints could reshape global shipping routes, increase freight costs, and keep geopolitical risk premiums in energy markets elevated.