Delta Blue Tanker Survives Twin Attacks Near Yemen

The Delta Blue crude oil tanker was attacked twice off Yemen, with the crew remaining safe. The UKMTO reported that Houthi militants launched the attacks in support of Palestinians. The vessel, managed by Delta Tankers, was unscathed and continued its journey, despite the disruption to global trade routes.

The Delta Blue crude oil tanker, managed by Athens-based Delta Tankers, was subjected to a double attack off the coast of Yemen. Despite the assaults, the crew is reported safe, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency disclosed on Thursday.

Houthi militants aligned with Iran have been targeting international shipping near Yemen since November as a show of solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict. The first attack involved two small vessels launching a rocket-propelled grenade near Delta Blue, roughly 45 nautical miles south of Yemen's Mokha, according to UKMTO. Several hours later, a missile exploded close to the tanker.

Despite these dangerous encounters, the Liberia-flagged Delta Blue and its crew were unharmed, and the ship has continued to its next destination. The Houthi attacks have prompted U.S. and British retaliatory moves and caused significant disruptions to global trade, as ship owners reroute their vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, opting for the longer route around Africa.

(With inputs from agencies.)