Houthis Blamed as Ship Attacked in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi rebels are suspected of attacking a vessel in the Red Sea with projectiles on Monday, authorities say.

The ship was located just north of where crews are attempting to salvage a tanker still ablaze after a previous strike by the group.

This is the latest assault by the Iranian-backed group in the Red Sea, which has caused severe disruption for the $1 trillion maritime corridor.

The Houthis have said that they will continue mounting attacks at sea in a bid to bring an end to the war in Gaza.

The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that Monday’s attacked ship was struck by two projectiles, with a third explosion nearby.

“Damage control is underway,” UKMTO said, confirming no casualties and that the vessel is continuing to its next destination.

The timing of the attack and coordinates offered by the UKMTO corresponded to the reported path of the Panama-flagged oil tanker Blue Lagoon I, now traveling south through the Red Sea to an unlisted destination.

The Blue Lagoon I was coming from Russia’s port of Ust-Luga on the Baltic Sea and had been broadcasting that it had Russian-origin cargo on board.

In recent months, the Blue Lagoon I traveled to India, which gets more than 40% of its oil imports from Russia despite Moscow’s ongoing war on Ukraine and the international sanctions it faces over it.

The Greek-based firm operating the ship could not be immediately reached for comment by The Associated Press.

While the Houthis have not claimed responsibility, the group often delays such announcements.

The Sounion, an oil tanker carrying 1 million barrels of crude oil, remains on fire after first being hit by the Houthis on 21 August.

Efforts are underway to prevent environmental disaster due to the ship’s cargo of 1 million barrels of crude oil, with concerns the damaged vessel is at risk of causing a massive oil spill.

The tanker was abandoned by its crew after the assault.

A French destroyer under the European Union’s Operation Aspides rescued the crew, but satellite imagery on Monday showed the ship still burning.

Last week, the Houthis released footage showing explosives being planted and detonated on the Sounion, a tactic they have used in previous propaganda efforts.

On 28 August, Iran announced that its Yemeni ally has agreed to a temporary pause to allow ships to reach the damaged oil tanker in the Red Sea.

Since the Gaza conflict began in October, the Houthis have targeted over 80 vessels with missiles and drones, seizing one ship, sinking two others, and killing four sailors.

Although the rebels claim to target vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., many of those struck have no direct connection to the conflict, including some bound for Iran.

The attacks have also delayed humanitarian aid to Sudan and Yemen.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.