International Desk, Delhi Magazine: A Panamanian-flagged oil tanker was struck by a missile off the coast of Yemen, amid escalating attacks on merchant vessels by Houthi rebels, according to a report from maritime security company Ambrey. The attack, which took place approximately 10 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni town of Mokha, resulted in a fire in the ship’s cockpit, as indicated by radio communications.
Earlier, the British maritime security agency UKMTO reported an attack 76 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, also on the Red Sea. It remains unclear whether this refers to the same vessel. “A ship suffered slight damage after being hit by an unidentified projectile,” UKMTO stated on its X (formerly Twitter) account, confirming that the crew was unharmed and the vessel continued its journey to the next port.
The Houthi rebels, who control Hodeidah and extensive areas of Yemen, have intensified drone and missile strikes on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, disrupting international maritime trade in this critical region. These actions are purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, following Israel’s war against Hamas that began after an unprecedented attack by the Islamist group on Israeli territory on October 7.