A Panama-flagged oil tanker was attacked near the Yemeni port city of Mokha, on the Red Sea.the British security company Ambrey reported over the weekend, in the latest incident in waters where Houthi militants have attacked ships “in solidarity” with the Palestinians.
Ambrey said radio communication indicated that the ship had been hit by a missile and that there was a fire on board about 10 nautical miles southwest of Mokha.. He had received assistance and one of his steering units was working, Ambrey added, citing information he had received but without elaborating.
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia has been carrying out attacks in the commercially important waterway for months in opposition to Israel's war in Gaza. Ambrey added in a note that caution is recommended for vessels in the vicinity.
Separately, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (Ukmto) agency said a ship in the Red Sea was hit by an unknown object and suffered minor damage. “The vessel and crew are safe and continuing towards their next port of call,” Ukmto said in an advisory note about the incident 98 nautical miles south of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah.
Months of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing companies to divert their routes to longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa. In response, the United States and Britain have carried out attacks against Houthi targets.
