Houthi Rebels Attack Oil Tanker in Red Sea, Dragging Operation Underway

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have confirmed an attack on a foreign merchant vessel in the Red Sea on the night of August 31st. Additionally, they have announced that salvage operations for the previously attacked tanker, the Suezmax, will begin on September 1st.

In a televised statement, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the rebels had carried out a military operation against the “Groton” in the Red Sea, striking the vessel with a missile. This marks the second confirmed attack on the “Groton” in August, following a previous incident on August 3rd.

The US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) reported earlier on August 31st that the Liberian-flagged “Groton” had been hit by two ballistic missiles approximately 130 nautical miles east of the Yemeni port city of Aden. However, the CMF noted that the missiles landed near the vessel, causing no damage.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the captain of the “Groton” stated that all crew members were safe and the ship was continuing on its voyage to the next port of call.

Houthi senior official Jamal Amir announced on social media on August 31st that several tugboats would begin operations to tow the damaged Suezmax tanker on September 1st. The Suezmax was severely damaged and caught fire after being attacked by Houthi forces on August 21st.

Concerns have been raised about a potential oil spill in the Red Sea due to the large amount of crude oil on board the Suezmax. The Houthi rebels agreed on August 28th to allow rescue teams to tow the vessel to a safe location.

Since the outbreak of the latest conflict between Israel and Palestine in October last year, Houthi rebels have frequently attacked ships in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, and the Arabian Sea that they believe are linked to Israel, in support of Hamas and to pressure Israel to cease its military operations in the Gaza Strip. A US-led coalition has been conducting strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in response.

On August 31st, the US Central Command, which oversees operations in the Middle East, announced on social media that it had destroyed a drone and an unmanned surface vessel in the Houthi-controlled area of Yemen over the past 24 hours, stating that they posed an "imminent and credible threat" to US and coalition forces.