Houthi group attacks again, fire still burning on oil tanker; perpetrator of Saudi Arabian ship attack unknown

It was the latest in a series of attacks by Houthi forces that have disrupted the flow of $1 trillion worth of goods through the Red Sea every year.

Fire breaks out on the deck of the Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion in the Red Sea, August 29. (Source: Reuters)

An attack believed to have been carried out by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the Red Sea on September 2, just north of the area where crews were trying to save an oil tanker still ablaze after an earlier attack by the group, authorities said.

A series of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis have disrupted the flow of $1 trillion worth of goods through the Red Sea each year and halted some aid shipments to Sudan and Yemen.

According to the Jerusalem Post , the group has targeted more than 80 ships with missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.

The incident on September 2 involved two shells hitting the vessel and a third explosion nearby, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). “Damage control is underway,” UKMTO said in a statement, adding that there were no casualties and the vessel continued to its next destination.

The Houthi group claimed that the boat attacks were linked to Israel.

The time and coordinates provided by UKMTO show the vessel attacked was the Panama-flagged oil tanker Blue Lagoon I, which is currently sailing south through the Red Sea after departing from the Russian port of Ust-Luga with a cargo of Russian origin. The Greek-based company that operates the ship was not immediately available for comment.

According to Reuters, on the same day, September 2, another ship owned by Saudi Arabia was attacked in the Red Sea. It is not clear whether this ship was attacked by the Houthi group or not.

In another development, according to Qatar's Gulf Times newspaper, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah had a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart Badr Abdel Aati and Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi to discuss the Palestinian situation.

During the telephone conversations, the Foreign Ministers discussed the need to intensify joint Arab and Muslim action to achieve an immediate end to all serious Israeli violations, the need for an immediate ceasefire, and support for all Arab and Muslim efforts to achieve a just and comprehensive solution for the Palestinian people through the establishment of their independent state in accordance with legitimate international resolutions.

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