an oil tanker was hit by a missile, sparking a fire on board

A Panamanian-flagged oil tanker was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen, where Houthi rebels are increasing attacks on merchant ships, the maritime security company Ambrey reported on Saturday (May 18). A radio communication “indicates that the ship was hit by a missile and that there is a fire in the cockpit of the aircraft”the British company claimed that the attack occurred about 10 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni town of Mokha.

The British maritime security agency UKMTO earlier reported an attack 76 nautical miles southwest of the city of Hodeidah, also on the Red Sea, although it was not known whether it was the same ship. “A ship suffered slight damage after being hit by an unidentified projectile”said UKMTO on its X account, specifying that the crew was safe and sound and that the ship had continued on its way to its next port of call.

The Houthis, who control the city of Hodeidah as well as large swathes of Yemeni territory, have carried out dozens of drone and missile strikes against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, disrupting global maritime trade. in this strategic area. Allies of Iran, they say they are acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel launched war against Hamas after the unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement on October 7 on Israeli soil.