A crude oil tanker owned by an Athens-based company was targeted in three suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. Private security guards destroyed a bomb-loaded drone boat in one of the attacks, while a missile exploded near the vessel in another, causing no injuries. The attacks come amid escalating tensions in the region, with concerns of a wider conflict involving Israel and Iran.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for the assaults, but they follow a pattern of targeting shipping in the Red Sea corridor over Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip. After a recent pause in attacks, they resumed following the assassination of a Hamas leader in Iran.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations reported that the crude oil tanker was targeted by rocket-propelled grenades and a drone boat, with private security guards successfully destroying the vehicle. The attacks highlight the ongoing conflict in the region, with Iran backing the Houthis as part of a regional “Axis of Resistance.”
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also reported a fourth attack on a ship with a missile splashing in the Red Sea close to Yemen’s Mokha. The ongoing attacks underscore the danger and instability in the region, with international efforts being made to prevent further escalation and negotiate a ceasefire.
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Photo credit www.theguardian.com
