On Monday, two ships, including a Panama-flagged oil tanker and a merchant vessel, came under attack in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen, according to reports from British maritime agencies. The tanker, identified as Blue Lagoon I, was struck by two projectiles.
Details Of The Attacks
The oil tanker attack occurred approximately 70 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s port of Saleef, as confirmed by security firm Ambrey and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). The tanker’s Greek manager, Sea Trade Marine SA, was not immediately available for comment on the incident. Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the attack.
Ambrey suggested that the attack on Blue Lagoon I might have been linked to the vessel’s company affiliation with ships that had previously docked at Israeli ports. This incident comes amid a broader context of escalating tensions in the region.
In a separate incident, a drone struck a merchant vessel about 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen’s Hodeidah, a Red Sea port located just south of Saleef. The merchant vessel, despite being hit, is reportedly continuing to its next port of call.
Context Of The Attacks
These attacks are part of a series of maritime incidents in the region. Since November, Iran-aligned Houthi militants have been launching attacks on international shipping near Yemen. These actions are claimed to be in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
