<p>Saudi forces on Tuesday destroyed an explosive-laden boat off the coast of the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the defence ministry said.</p>.<p>"A bomb-laden unmanned (vessel) was intercepted and destroyed this morning," the ministry said in a statement, published by the official Saudi Press Agency.</p>.<p>"Naval units were able to detect and monitor the activity of the bomb-laden (boat) in the Red Sea waters off the shores of Yanbu."</p>.<p>No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, which the ministry said was under investigation.</p>.<p>The incident comes as fighting escalates in neighbouring Yemen between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-aligned Huthi rebels.</p>.<p>Yanbu, 860 kilometres (535 miles) east of the Saudi capital Riyadh, lies some 975 kilometres north of Saudi's frontier with Yemen.</p>.<p>Huthi insurgents are ramping up a bloody offensive to seize the oil-rich Marib region, the Yemeni government's last stronghold in northern Yemen.</p>.<p>The Huthis, who are battling the Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen's war in 2015, have also stepped up drone and missile strikes on Saudi targets, including its oil facilities.</p>.<p>The rebels have used bomb-rigged boats in the past to target the kingdom.</p>.<p>Last week, Greece said it will transfer a Patriot missile battery to Saudi Arabia to protect its critical energy infrastructure, as the Gulf kingdom grapples with the growing attacks.</p>.<p>Maritime security firm Dryad Global said it had received reports that a ship had been "attacked" off Yanbu.</p>.<p>But the firm later said the ship was "not involved in the incident" and it will continue to investigate.</p>
<p>Saudi forces on Tuesday destroyed an explosive-laden boat off the coast of the Red Sea port of Yanbu, the defence ministry said.</p>.<p>"A bomb-laden unmanned (vessel) was intercepted and destroyed this morning," the ministry said in a statement, published by the official Saudi Press Agency.</p>.<p>"Naval units were able to detect and monitor the activity of the bomb-laden (boat) in the Red Sea waters off the shores of Yanbu."</p>.<p>No group has so far claimed responsibility for the incident, which the ministry said was under investigation.</p>.<p>The incident comes as fighting escalates in neighbouring Yemen between Saudi-backed government forces and Iran-aligned Huthi rebels.</p>.<p>Yanbu, 860 kilometres (535 miles) east of the Saudi capital Riyadh, lies some 975 kilometres north of Saudi's frontier with Yemen.</p>.<p>Huthi insurgents are ramping up a bloody offensive to seize the oil-rich Marib region, the Yemeni government's last stronghold in northern Yemen.</p>.<p>The Huthis, who are battling the Saudi-led military coalition that intervened in Yemen's war in 2015, have also stepped up drone and missile strikes on Saudi targets, including its oil facilities.</p>.<p>The rebels have used bomb-rigged boats in the past to target the kingdom.</p>.<p>Last week, Greece said it will transfer a Patriot missile battery to Saudi Arabia to protect its critical energy infrastructure, as the Gulf kingdom grapples with the growing attacks.</p>.<p>Maritime security firm Dryad Global said it had received reports that a ship had been "attacked" off Yanbu.</p>.<p>But the firm later said the ship was "not involved in the incident" and it will continue to investigate.</p>