He played down reports that they were connected to an Egyptian sweep of the Sinai peninsula for militants that has been reported in the Israeli media, although he declined to say what, if any, operational duties the ships were performing.

“I can confirm that there are two naval craft in the Red Sea. This is not unusual,” the official told Reuters.

Brent crude prices extended gains after the reports came out, adding around $1 to trade up $2.19 at $114.05 by 1531 GMT.

Israeli warships are regularly stationed at a naval port in the resort city of Eilat at the northern tip of the Red Sea and patrol the area to the south as part of routine procedure to secure the Jewish state’s borders.