The Houthi group announced on Monday evening its responsibility for targeting the “Blue Lagoon 1” ship in the Red Sea, while the US military confirmed that the Houthis attacked two crude oil tankers in the same area. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthis, stated that the group carried out a “precision military operation targeting the (BLUE LAGOON I) with an appropriate number of missiles and several drones, hitting it directly.”
The US military reported that on Monday, the Houthi group attacked the two oil tankers in the Red Sea using two ballistic missiles and a drone. It also mentioned that it had destroyed two missile systems in Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen within 24 hours. Earlier on Monday, the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority indicated that projectiles had hit an unnamed ship, causing a third explosion nearby. The authority noted that “damage control is ongoing, and there are no injuries aboard the ship, which is now heading to a nearby port.” The timing and coordinates provided by the authority correspond with the reported route of the oil tanker “Blue Lagoon 1” flying the Panamanian flag.
The “Blue Lagoon 1” ship was coming from the Russian port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea, carrying a cargo of Russian origin. In recent months, the ship has traveled to India, which receives 40% of its oil imports from Russia. A Greek company manages the ship. Later on Monday morning, the British Maritime Operations Authority announced a second attack off the coastal city of Al Hudaydah, controlled by the Houthis. The private security company Ambrey reported that a drone had struck a commercial ship, though no damages or injuries were reported. Ambrey added that the attack occurred just a few kilometers from where the “Blue Lagoon 1” attack happened.
Monday’s attack is the latest in the Houthi campaign, which has disrupted navigation through the Red Sea. The attack comes as efforts are underway to rescue the burning oil tanker “Sunyon,” still aflame after being targeted by the Houthis, to avoid a potential environmental disaster posed by its cargo of one million barrels of crude oil. The Houthis have targeted over 80 ships with missiles and drones since the onset of the war on Gaza, capturing one ship and sinking two as part of the campaign that has also resulted in the deaths of four sailors.
