An oil tanker was hit by a missile, and the ship caught fire

A Panama-flagged oil tanker was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen, where Houthi rebels are increasing attacks on merchant ships, maritime security firm Ambre said on Saturday (May 18). A radio communication “Indicates the ship was hit by a missile and the cockpit caught fire”The British agency said the attack took place about 10 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni city of Moga.

British maritime security agency UKMTO earlier reported the attack in the Red Sea, 76 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah, although it was not known if it was the same ship. “Ship sustained minor damage after being hit by an unidentified projectile”UKMTO said on his accountIt stated that the crew was safe and sound and the ship continued on its way to its next port.

The Houthis have carried out dozens of drone and missile strikes against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, over the city of Hodeidah and large swaths of Yemeni territory, disrupting global maritime trade in the strategic region. Iran’s allies say they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel waged war against Hamas after the Palestinian Islamist movement’s unprecedented attack on Israeli soil on October 7.