Crews of Two Ships Safe after Coming under Fire in Red Sea.

Two ships in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen were targeted in attacks on Tuesday, but fortunately, no damage was reported. The first ship, identified as the Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker Delta Atlantica, was attacked by an uncrewed surface vessel (USV) and experienced two explosions in close proximity. The vessel managed to disable the USV about 63 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah. The second ship, the Panama-flagged crude oil tanker On Phoenix, reported an explosion in its vicinity but was not hit.

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) confirmed the attempted attacks on both vessels. These incidents are part of a series of attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants on international shipping near Yemen since last November. The attacks are said to be in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Despite the disruptions caused by these attacks, the vessels and crew in both incidents are safe and continuing to their next port of call.

The attacks by Houthi militants have led to retaliatory strikes by the US and British forces and have caused disruptions in global trade. Ship owners are rerouting vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, opting for the longer route around the southern tip of Africa to ensure the safety of their cargo and crew. The incidents highlight the ongoing security risks faced by ships navigating through these volatile waters.

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