US Military Reports Houthi Attacks on Two Oil Tankers in the Red Sea

The US military has confirmed that Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked two crude oil tankers in the Red Sea on Monday.

The vessels targeted were the Saudi-flagged Amjad and the Panama-flagged Blue Lagoon I. The US Central Command described these incidents as “reckless acts of terrorism.”

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Blue Lagoon I, claiming that they used multiple missiles and drones. However, they made no mention of the attack on the Amjad. According to the US military, both ships were struck by two ballistic missiles and a drone. Despite the attacks, both tankers carrying large amounts of crude oil were able to continue their journeys with minimal damage or casualties.

The Amjad, owned by the Saudi national shipping group Bahri, was transporting approximately two million barrels of oil at the time of the attack. Sea Trade Marine SA, the Greek manager of the Blue Lagoon I, has yet to comment on the incident. The Blue Lagoon I, which has a maximum capacity of one million barrels, was also damaged but did not need assistance.

These attacks are part of a larger campaign by the Houthis, who have previously targeted ships in the Red Sea, particularly following the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict. The Houthis claim that their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians, but many of the vessels targeted have little or no connection to the conflict.

The US military has responded by destroying two Houthi missile systems. The Houthis have targeted more than 80 vessels with missiles and drones since the beginning of the Gaza conflict.

With input from the Times of Israel, Reuters and the Associated Press.