The US military reported that the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are supported by Iran, targeted two crude oil tankers in the Red Sea on Monday. The targeted tankers were the Amjad, flagged in Saudi Arabia, and the Blue Lagoon I, flagged in Panama. The attacks were described as “reckless acts of terrorism”.
Late on Monday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting the Blue Lagoon with many drones and missiles. They did not mention the Saudi tanker.
According to the U.S. Central Command, the Houthis struck both tankers with a one-way strike unmanned aircraft system and two ballistic missiles.
The Amjad was carrying almost two million barrels of crude oil. The U.S. military described the strikes as “reckless acts of terrorism by the Houthis.” Both tankers were loaded with crude oil.
The ships were hit while sailing close to one another, according to two people who previously spoke to Reuters. Despite this, the ships were able to continue their journeys without suffering any significant damage or injuries.
A request for comment from the Amjad’s owner, the Saudi national shipping corporation Bahri, was not immediately answered. The supertanker can hold up to two million barrels at a time.
Sea Trade Marine SA, the Greek manager of Blue Lagoon I, was not immediately available for comment. One million barrels is the maximum capacity of the Suezmax tanker.
Reuters was informed by one of the individuals that Amjad was not believed to have been specifically targeted.
The leading oil exporter in the world, Saudi Arabia, has been alarmed by the Houthi missiles that have been fired over its borders to attack ships in the Red Sea. Saudi Arabia has made an effort to distance itself from both the bloody conflict in Yemen and the damaging rivalry with Iran, the main supporter of the Houthis.
In November, the Houthis conducted their first aerial drone and missile strikes on the waterway. They claim to act in sympathy with the Palestinians who are being attacked in Israel’s war on Gaza. This conflict has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths, destroyed much of the enclave, and created a humanitarian crisis following the devastating attack by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on October 7.
The Houthis have murdered at least three seafarers, seized one vessel, and sunk two others in more than 70 raids.
Three ballistic missile attacks struck the Blue Lagoon I tanker on Monday, 70 nautical miles northwest of the northern Yemeni town of Saleef, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center, which is managed by foreign naval forces to monitor Houthi attacks.
The center “assesses that M/V BLUE LAGOON I was targeted due to other vessels within its company structure making recent port calls in Israel,” it claimed in a report.
“All crew on board are safe. The vessel sustained minimal damage but does not require assistance.”
Click here for more World news.