A vessel in the Gulf of Aden off Yemen caught fire on Saturday after being hit by a projectile, as reported by the British military. There were indications that the crew was getting ready to abandon the ship.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor, although they have not yet claimed responsibility for this specific attack. It is common for the rebels to delay claiming attacks for hours or even days.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center issued an alert regarding the incident, stating that it occurred approximately 210 kilometers (130 miles) east of Aden. The ship in question, a Cameroon-flagged tanker traveling from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti, was reportedly preparing for a crew evacuation, with a search-and-rescue operation in progress, according to maritime security firm Ambrey.
The vessel in question is believed to be the Falcon, a Cameroon-flagged tanker known for transporting liquefied petroleum gas. The ship had previously been linked to the Iranian “ghost fleet” by United Against Nuclear Iran, a New York-based organization. The ship’s owners and operators, based in India, were not immediately reachable for comments.
The Houthis have attracted global attention for their attacks on ships and Israel during the Israel-Hamas conflict, claiming that their actions were intended to pressure Israel to halt hostilities. Following the ceasefire on October 10, the rebel group has not claimed any attacks. Their assaults on shipping have resulted in the deaths of at least nine sailors and the sinking of four vessels, disrupting Red Sea maritime traffic, which previously saw about $1 trillion worth of goods passing through annually.
In a separate development, the Houthis have made threats against Saudi Arabia and detained numerous workers from United Nations agencies and aid organizations, accusing them, without evidence, of espionage—an allegation vehemently refuted by the implicated entities.