Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for targeting two tankers in the Red Sea using a combination of drones, drone boats, and ballistic missiles. The attacks, according to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, were directed at the BENTLEY I, a Panama-flagged oil tanker, and the CHIOS LION, a Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker. The rebels cited the vessels’ alleged use of Israeli ports as justification for the assaults.
Earlier on the same day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported multiple incidents involving merchant ships in the region. One vessel, southwest of Hodeidah port, encountered three small boats, two of which were manned and engaged in an attack, while the third was unmanned. The ship managed to repel the attack and proceeded safely to its destination despite minor damage.
In a separate incident, another merchant vessel reported being impacted by an uncrewed surface vessel nearly 97 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, causing light damage and smoke. The crew remained unharmed and continued towards its next port of call.
These incidents highlight ongoing security concerns in the Red Sea, a crucial maritime route for global trade. Despite the presence of Western naval forces aimed at safeguarding shipping lanes, Houthi-initiated drone and missile strikes persist. Both the United States and Britain have conducted retaliatory actions against Houthi targets in Yemen this year, underscoring efforts to maintain international waters’ safety and security.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) recently confirmed its forces’ destruction of several Houthi drones, emphasizing their actions as necessary to uphold freedom of navigation in the region.
