Houthi missiles hit Panama oil tanker in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi rebels recently fired ballistic missiles at a Panama-flagged oil tanker, causing minor damage while it navigated through the Red Sea. This incident is part of a surge in attacks following a period of reduced activity during Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The U.S. military’s Central Command reported that the attack involved three missiles, with one striking the Andromeda Star, a tanker registered in Seychelles and linked to Russian trade, according to the security firm Ambrey. The tanker was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India, at the time of the attack.

Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree of the Houthi forces confirmed the strike in a statement, asserting that the tanker was “directly hit.” During the attack, another ship, the Maisha, flagged by Antigua-Barbuda and operated by Liberia, was also in the vicinity. The incident occurred near Mocha, Yemen, close to the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which is a critical maritime link between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The U.S. Maritime Administration has documented over 50 Houthi-initiated incidents involving maritime vessels since November, including the seizure of one ship and the sinking of another.

The frequency of Houthi attacks has declined following targeted U.S.-led airstrikes in Yemen. This decrease in naval activity in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden is largely due to heightened security concerns. U.S. authorities speculate that the Houthis might be depleting their arsenal after months of intense military engagements using drones and missiles.

Despite the recent drop in activity, the Houthis have claimed responsibility for at least two attacks since Wednesday. These include strikes on the U.S.-flagged MV Yorktown, manned by American and Greek crew, and another vessel, the MSC Darwin.

The Houthis have indicated that their assaults will persist until Israel ceases its military actions in Gaza, a conflict that erupted after Hamas militants launched attacks on Israel on October 7, resulting in significant casualties and hostage-taking. Notably, most vessels targeted by the Houthis have little to no direct ties to Israel or other nations involved in the Gaza conflict. The group has also attempted missile attacks against Israel, though these have generally been unsuccessful or intercepted.