Houthi Attack on Ship in the Red Sea Sparks Outrage

On Monday, Yemen’s Houthi rebels were implicated in an attack on a vessel in the Red Sea, according to reports from authorities.

The incident occurred just north of a site where crews are working to salvage a tanker that remains engulfed in flames following an earlier strike by the Houthis.

This marks the latest incident in a string of assaults by the Iranian-backed group in the Red Sea, significantly disrupting this key maritime corridor valued at $1 trillion.

The Houthis have declared their intent to persist with maritime attacks as part of their broader strategy to influence the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the attacked vessel encountered two projectiles and a nearby explosion. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties, and the ship is proceeding to its next port.

Coordinates associated with the attack align with the trajectory of the Panama-flagged oil tanker Blue Lagoon I, which is now heading south through the Red Sea, having come from a Russian port.

Notably, the Blue Lagoon I transported Russian-origin cargo and has previously docked in India, a country that sources a significant portion of its oil from Russia despite international sanctions.

Attempts to reach the Greek-based firm managing the ship for further comment were unsuccessful.

Though the Houthis have not officially taken responsibility for the attack, they often delay such claims.

Meanwhile, the Sounion, another oil tanker carrying a million barrels of crude, continues to burn after being struck by the Houthis back on August 21. Environmental concerns about a potential oil spill are rising as efforts are made to manage the wreck.

The crew abandoned the Sounion post-attack, but a French destroyer involved in the EU’s Operation Aspides safely rescued them. Despite this, satellite images show the ship still ablaze.

Last week, the Houthis released footage of the explosives used in the Sounion attack, echoing similar tactics seen in their earlier propaganda.

After a temporary pause suggested by Iran on August 28 to facilitate rescue operations for the damaged tanker, the Houthis have ramped up their maritime assaults amid the Gaza conflict, targeting over 80 vessels with missiles and drones, leading to one ship being seized, two sunk, and four sailors killed.

While the rebels claim to target connections to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., several vessels have been hit that have no links to these nations, including those heading to Iran.

These attacks have also hindered humanitarian efforts in Sudan and Yemen.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.