A Tanker in the Red Sea Targeted by Missile Attack

The U.S. State Department announced on Friday that on February 16, a tanker carrying crude oil, en route to India in the Red Sea, was targeted by a missile attack. A spokesperson for the State Department described this attack as "another example of illegal attacks on international shipping" and stated that these attacks continue despite numerous joint and international statements urging the Houthis to cease such actions. Earlier, the British Maritime Trade Operations and the British maritime security company 'Ambrey' reported a missile attack on a tanker in the Red Sea, stating that the vessel was targeted 133 kilometers northwest of the port of 'Mokha' near Yemen. According to reports, during the attack on this Panama-flagged tanker, the ship caught fire and sustained minor damage, but the crew was unharmed. Ambrey noted that another vessel was seen changing course towards the port approximately five kilometers northeast of this tanker. As of the time of this report, no group had claimed responsibility for the missile attack. However, it is typically the Houthis of Yemen, supported by the Islamic Republic, who target vessels in the Red Sea. They have stated that as long as Israel continues its war in Gaza, they will continue their attacks on ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Palestinians. Abdul-Malik al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis, described the group's operations as "impactful" and "very successful" in a televised speech on Thursday. Attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted global shipping, forcing many companies to use alternative routes. These alternative routes around the southern tip of Africa are longer and more costly, and are not considered a viable long-term solution. The continuation of the current situation raises concerns that the war between Israel and Hamas could lead to instability in the Middle East. The United States, some of its allies, and several European Union members are deploying warships and forces to the region to protect cargo ships from missile and drone attacks. Meanwhile, the U.S. and Britain have also attacked some Houthi targets and inflicted damage on this Yemeni group. On Friday, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that the Houthis have been placed back on the list of "specially designated global terrorists" due to their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Last month, the U.S. government stated that it would reinstate the Yemeni rebel groups on this list to prevent further attacks on international shipping in the region.