The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced on Friday that the crude oil tanker “Delta Blue” reported being subjected to four attacks over the past 24 hours off the Yemeni port of Al-Mokha. The company managing the tanker stated that both the vessel and its crew are safe.
The ship’s captain reported yesterday that two small boats launched a rocket-propelled grenade that exploded near the Liberia-flagged tanker, approximately 45 nautical miles south of the port of Al-Mokha. The UKMTO added that each boat carried four individuals, noting that another rocket exploded near the tanker hours later.
In response to an inquiry about the incident, Delta Tankers, the Athens-based company managing the vessel, confirmed that the crew and the ship are safe, adding, “The ship continues its journey.”
The United States Central Command reported that its forces struck targets in areas of Yemen under the control of the Houthi group last Wednesday, resulting in the destruction of two drones, a ground control station, and three anti-ship cruise missiles.
The maritime security situation in the Red Sea remains precarious due to ongoing Houthi attacks on commercial shipping. These attacks have been frequent and significant, affecting global shipping routes and international trade. The United Nations Security Council has strongly condemned these attacks and called for their immediate cessation to safeguard maritime navigation and trade in the region.
In response to these threats, the international community, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and other nations, have been actively engaging in defensive operations. These operations aim to protect shipping lanes but have also escalated military costs significantly. The U.S. has found itself deploying more naval assets, including warships and aircraft carriers, to counter the Houthi drone and missile attacks that target commercial vessels indiscriminately.
Despite these efforts, the attacks have continued, with the Houthis targeting vessels with a variety of weapons including drones, missiles, and RPGs. The strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a critical point linking the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea, has been a focal point of these assaults. Just recently, multiple attacks were reported against vessels in this area, illustrating the ongoing risk to both civilian and commercial vessels.
