WASHINGTON/LONDON: The U.S. military has condemned attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels on two crude oil tankers in the Red Sea on Monday, describing them as “reckless acts of terrorism.” The Saudi-flagged Amjad and Panama-flagged Blue Lagoon I were targeted, according to U.S. Central Command.
The Houthis claimed responsibility for attacking the Blue Lagoon with missiles and drones but did not mention the Saudi tanker. U.S. Central Command reported that the Houthis struck both vessels with two ballistic missiles and a one-way attack drone. Both ships were laden with crude oil, with the Amjad carrying about two million barrels.
Sources told Reuters that the ships were sailing close to each other at the time of the attack but sustained no major damage or casualties. The Amjad, owned by Saudi national shipping group Bahri, and the Blue Lagoon I, managed by Greece-based Sea Trade Marine SA, were able to continue their voyages.
Saudi Arabia has been alarmed by Houthi missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea and has been attempting to distance itself from the war in Yemen and tensions with Iran, the Houthis’ primary supporter.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, which monitors Houthi attacks, reported that three ballistic missiles struck the Blue Lagoon I tanker 70 nautical miles northwest of the Yemeni port of Saleef. The center suggested the attack could be related to vessels associated with the same company recently docking in Israel. Despite the incident, all crew members on board were reported safe, and the tanker sustained minimal damage.
The Houthis’ recent attacks in the Red Sea are part of what they describe as an act of solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has caused severe destruction and a humanitarian crisis since Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7.
