By Suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea on Monday, escalating tensions in a vital maritime corridor and potentially threatening global trade and environmental safety. The incidents occurred near ongoing efforts to salvage the Sounion, an oil tanker still ablaze after a previous assault.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that in the first attack, two projectiles struck a vessel, with a third explosion occurring nearby. The targeted ship, believed to be the Panama-flagged oil tanker Blue Lagoon I, was traveling south through the Red Sea after departing from Russia’s port of Ust-Luga. The vessel had been broadcasting its cargo as of Russian origin.
Later Monday morning, the UKMTO reported a second attack off the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida. Private security firm Ambrey stated that an aerial drone hit a merchant ship in close proximity to the earlier incident, though no damage or injuries were reported.
These attacks are part of a broader campaign by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, who have targeted over 80 vessels with missiles and drones since October 2023. The rebels claim to be targeting ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the United Kingdom in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. However, many of the attacked vessels have little or no connection to the conflict.
The Houthi attacks have significantly disrupted the flow of goods through the Red Sea, a crucial waterway for global trade valued at $1 trillion annually. The assaults have also impeded aid shipments to conflict-affected regions in Sudan and Yemen.
Amid these tensions, efforts continue to salvage the Sounion, an oil tanker carrying 1 million barrels of crude oil. The vessel was attacked by Houthis on August 21 and subsequently abandoned by its crew. Salvage operations aim to prevent a potential ecological disaster, as the ship remains ablaze. Houthi official Jamel Amer had announced that tugboats were expected to arrive on Sunday to tow the Sounion away, but NASA fire satellites detected an ongoing blaze at the vessel’s location on Monday morning.
The Houthi rebels’ campaign has not only disrupted maritime trade but also resulted in casualties. Four sailors have been killed, while one vessel was seized and two were sunk. The United States-led coalition in the Red Sea has intercepted numerous missiles and drones, but the attacks continue to pose a significant threat to shipping in the region.
As tensions escalate, the international community faces mounting pressure to address the security challenges in the Red Sea. The attacks not only jeopardize global trade but also risk severe environmental consequences, particularly if fully laden oil tankers like the Sounion are compromised.
