An Indian-flagged crude oil tanker in the Red Sea was targeted by a drone attack launched by Houthi militants, the US military said on Saturday.
Reports from two ships in the Southern Red Sea indicated they were under attack. The USS Laboon responded to distress signals from a Norwegian-operated chemical/oil tanker named M/V BLAAMANEN and an Indian-flagged crude oil tanker named M/V SAIBABA, owned by Gabon.
The Norwegian tanker reported a near miss from a Houthi one-way attack drone, resulting in no injuries or damage. However, the Indian tanker, Saibaba, reported a direct hit with no injuries.
The Indian Navy, however, clarified that M/V SAIBABA was not Indian-flagged but carried the flag of Gabon.
Advertisement
These attacks occurred at approximately 10:30 pm IST on December 23. They are part of a series of drone and missile attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on the crucial Red Sea shipping lane, escalating since the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war on October 7.
Why Houthis attack Red Sea ships?
The Houthi attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea, initiated after the onset of the Israel-Gaza war on October 7, have led major global shipping companies to announce their avoidance of the area.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group controlling a substantial part of Yemen, have declared their intention to target any ship travelling to Israel. Since then, they have carried out multiple drone and ballistic missile attacks on commercial vessels.
Advertisement
In response to these attacks, the United States has launched an international naval operation to safeguard ships in the region. Several countries, including the UK, Canada, France, Bahrain, Norway, and Spain, have joined forces to address the escalating maritime security concerns in the Red Sea.
