Ship attacked in Yemen

A Liberia-flagged crude oil tanker, Delta Blue, has been targeted in four separate attacks off the coast of Yemen, attributed to Iran-aligned Houthi militants. The vessel reported a rocket-propelled grenade explosion and missile strikes within 24 hours, with an armed security team on board successfully neutralizing an unmanned surface vessel (USV) that approached. Despite the assaults, the tanker and its crew remained unharmed and continued their journey. These incidents are part of a broader pattern of Houthi attacks on maritime interests, which have escalated since November as a protest against Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict. Such attacks have led to disruptions in global shipping routes, prompting vessels to reroute away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal. The U.S. and British forces have responded with strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen, aimed at curbing the threat to maritime security.