Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - The Israeli government has offered assistance to neighboring Jordan Tuesday after an oil pipeline ruptured in the Hashemite Kingdom's Red Sea port city of Aqaba, a joint statement from the Foreign Ministry and Ministry of Environmental Protection said.

The incident occurred around 1600 Israel time (1300 GMT) and some 200 tons of crude oil were spilled in the port and into the Red Sea.

✕According to Jordanian media the breach happened as oil was being transferred from a barge to storage tanks on the port. There have been no reports of terror related activity, and Jordanian officials have said that the situation is under control.

The offices of the foreign ministry and the environmental protection ministry "are in contact with the Jordanians and are prepared to provide assistance in the form of equipment and manpower, as required," the statement said.

Additionally, it said, "inspectors with the Ministry of Environmental Protection will closely monitor the possible impact on the coast of Eilat."

Israel's resort city of Eilat lies just across the border from Aqaba and is notorious for its clear blue waters and coral reef that extends for more than 1200 meters (yards) along the shore.

The reef has been named a nature reserve and is home to 270 species of coral and over 2,500 species of underwater animals.

*I24