Fire in the Red Sea: Unmanned Vessel Destruction Amid Rising Tensions

A fire, likely resulting from the destruction of an unmanned surface vessel, was observed in the Red Sea near Yemen's port of Salif. This incident occurs amid ongoing attacks by Iran-aligned Houthi militants on international shipping. Many shipowners have rerouted their vessels, resulting in increased costs and delivery times.

A fire was reported in the Red Sea approximately 58 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's port of Salif, British security firm Ambrey disclosed on Thursday.

According to Ambrey, smoke was seen coming from the water, likely due to the destruction of an unmanned surface vessel. The firm indicated that the area has seen hostile manned and unmanned craft activity.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants in Yemen have been launching attacks against international shipping in the region since November, in support of Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. As a result, many shipowners have opted to reroute vessels via the southern tip of Africa, incurring higher costs and longer delivery times.

(With inputs from agencies.)