Breaking: Armed Skiffs Attack Merchant Vessels Off Yemen in Two Separate Incidents
Initial reports indicate an explosion has occurred on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, near Yemen. The circumstances and cause remain unclear.
Two merchant vessels came under attack off the coast of Yemen on Monday, just one day after the announcement of a U.S.-Iran ceasefire framework, British maritime authorities warned.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued Warning 069-26 after a container vessel was approached by a small skiff approximately 14 nautical miles south of the Yemeni coast at 0735 UTC. Individuals aboard the skiff opened fire on the vessel and attempted to board it. Crews are reported safe and authorities are investigating.
In a second incident, a tanker was targeted approximately 111 nautical miles southeast of Aden, when a skiff carrying four armed men approached and fired an RPG at the vessel. No injuries or damage were reported in either attack.
UKMTO advised all vessels operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The twin attacks come against a backdrop of sustained maritime insecurity in the region. UKMTO recently warned of a renewed increase in piracy in the Gulf of Aden and the wider Somali Basin, noting there is at least one active group of pirates in the region. Somali piracy, largely contained for years by international naval patrols, has shown signs of revival as warships concentrate on the Houthi threat further north.
Iran-backed Houthi terrorists have repeatedly targeted commercial shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since late 2023. The group's military spokesman previously declared a "complete ban on enemy navigation" in the Red Sea, warning that operations would intensify.
Authorities have not yet attributed Monday's attacks to any specific group. Investigations are ongoing.