UKMTO reports another ship attack off Yemen's coast
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Unidentified attackers in two boats reportedly fired four shells at the tanker, causing it to lose control.
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Screengrab of UKMTO interactive map. (@_MartinKelly_)
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Coordination Center (UKMTO) reported a new attack on a merchant vessel off the coast of Yemen on Wednesday. The incident occurred 57 nautical miles (106 kilometers) south of Aden, making it the second such attack in the region on the same day.
UKMTO DAILY SUMMARY
— United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) (@UK_MTO) August 21, 2024
1600UTC 20Aug 24 to 1600UTC 21 Aug 24https://t.co/DQ9L4E6Ddt#MaritimeSecurity #MarSec pic.twitter.com/T1Jo2RqKFj
The captain of the vessel, whose name has not been released, reported two explosions near the ship. Despite the attack, the crew remained unharmed, and the vessel continued its journey toward its intended port, according to the report.
Earlier on Wednesday, another vessel, the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, was attacked 77 nautical miles (142 kilometers) west of the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah. Unidentified attackers in two boats reportedly fired four shells at the tanker, causing it to lose control. The Greek company Delta Tankers, which owns the Sounion, confirmed that the vessel was adrift following the incident.
Read more: Israelis to face major food shortages if Hezbollah strikes Haifa
As part of ongoing efforts to pressure the Israeli regime to cease its genocidal campaign in Gaza, the Yemeni Resistance has been targeting Israeli and Israeli-linked vessels transiting the Red Sea.
So far, Yemen's efforts appear to have yielded outcomes, as Israeli news reports say the port of the occupied city of Asdud in Palestine has lost at least 20 million shekels worth of revenue this season.
'Israel' gets a taste of its own medicine
Earlier this month, Israeli news outlet Walla! reported that the regime is suffering from a de facto naval blockade imposed by Iran and Hezbollah.
This blockade, which has come into effect "before any missile strikes", has already caused severe operational paralysis in key Israeli ports, and experts warn that the situation could deteriorate further if the ongoing war escalates.
The port of Eilat has already been non-operational since November due to Yemeni operations in the Red Sea. As a result, shipments destined for Eilat have been redirected to the ports of Haifa and Ashdod.
However, even there the situation is dire, with shipowners increasingly hesitant to send their vessels into what they see as a dangerous environment.
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
