A Greek-flagged oil tanker was attacked while traveling through the Red Sea, suspected to be carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The vessel was left drifting ablaze after the attack, which was the most serious incident in the Red Sea in weeks. The Houthis have been targeting ships in the region over the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This disruption has affected a trade route that typically sees $1 trillion in cargo passing through each year. The attack involved small boats opening fire with small arms and four projectiles hitting the ship, causing it to lose all power and drift.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations center reported the incident, stating that the vessel was “not under command” and that there were no casualties reported. The ship, identified as the Sounion, had 25 crew members on board at the time of the attack as it was traveling from Iraq to Cyprus. Another ship was targeted in the Gulf of Aden with three explosions occurring close to it, though no damage was caused. The Houthis have targeted over 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the conflict in Gaza began in October, seizing one vessel and sinking two. Most of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict.
The Houthis have claimed to target ships linked to Israel, the United States, or the UK to force an end to Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza. However, their attacks have targeted vessels with minimal connections to the conflict, including those bound for Iran. The rebels have also launched drones and missiles toward Israel, resulting in casualties. After a series of attacks, a pause ensued until August 3 when a Liberian-flagged container ship was targeted in the Gulf of Aden. Subsequent attacks on oil tankers have been attributed to the rebels, with three recent attacks targeting vessels affiliated with Delta Tankers, a Greek company.
As tensions escalate in the region with Iran threatening retaliation against Israel, the U.S. military has increased presence in the area. The USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group has been instructed to sail more rapidly to the region, while the USS Georgia-guided missile submarine has been deployed to the Middle East. The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier strike group is stationed in the Gulf of Oman, and additional F-22 fighter jets have been deployed. The USS Wasp, an amphibious assault ship carrying F-35 fighter jets, is also in the Mediterranean Sea. Iran’s threat of retaliation and the increased military presence in the region contribute to growing tensions in the area.
