Amid tensions in the Red Sea, a Greek-flagged oil tanker was left drifting and burning on Wednesday after a series of suspected attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels, the British military said, according to the Associated Press (AP).
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that the attack began when men aboard small boats opened fire on the tanker with small arms, approximately 90 miles west of the Houthi-controlled Yemeni port city of Hodeida.
In addition, four projectiles also reportedly hit the ship. However, it is still unclear if the projectiles were drones or missiles.
The vessel, identified as the tanker Sounion by the Greek shipping ministry, was en route from Iraq to Cyprus with a crew of 25 aboard. While no casualties were reported, the ship is currently adrift and on fire, according to UKMTO.
"The vessel reports being not under command. No casualties reported," the UKMTO said.
The situation further escalated later on Wednesday when the UKMTO reported a second attack in the Gulf of Aden, where two explosions occurred near another vessel. However, this attack did not result in any damage.
Newsweek reached out to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations via email on Wednesday for comment.
The tanker Sounion is one of several vessels associated with the Greek company Delta Tankers to come under attack in recent weeks, as the Houthi rebels continue to assert their presence in the Red Sea, an area through which approximately $1 trillion in cargo passes annually.
According to the AP, the Houthis, who have been intensifying their attacks on maritime vessels amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, have been blamed for Wednesday's incident, although no immediate claim of responsibility has been made by the group.
Since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the Houthis have reportedly targeted over 80 vessels, claiming they aim to disrupt shipping linked to Israel and its allies. However, many of these attacks have affected ships with no apparent connection to the conflict, including those bound for Iran.
According to the AP, the attacks have resulted in the sinking of two vessels and the deaths of four sailors, with numerous other attacks thwarted by a U.S.-led coalition in the region.
In response to these growing threats, the United States has bolstered its military presence in the region, deploying additional aircraft carriers, submarines and fighter jets. This move comes as tensions rise, particularly following recent Israeli airstrikes on Hodeida in retaliation for a deadly Houthi drone attack on Tel Aviv.
Earlier this month, after briefly pausing their attacks, the Houthis hit a Liberian-flagged container ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden. A Liberian-flagged oil tanker came under a particularly intense series of attacks beginning August 8, likely carried out by the rebels. Another similar attack also happened on August 13, the AP reported.
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