On Tuesday, a Saudi maritime shipping company firmly denied reports from the United States that one of its vessels had been attacked by Yemen’s Houthi group in the Red Sea. The denial follows an announcement by the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Monday, which claimed that the Houthis had launched attacks on two crude oil-laden tankers, including the Saudi-flagged MV Amjad.
According to CENTCOM, the Houthis targeted the Panama-flagged and Greek-operated MV Blue Lagoon I and the Saudi-flagged, owned, and operated MV Amjad using two ballistic missiles. The attack was part of a broader pattern of hostilities in the region, which has seen increasing threats to commercial shipping lanes critical to global oil and fuel transport.
However, the Saudi National Shipping Company, Bahri, issued a statement categorically refuting these claims. “We unequivocally confirm that the MV Amjad was not targeted and suffered no injuries or damage,” Bahri stated. The company further emphasized that the vessel remains fully operational and is continuing its journey to its planned destination without any interruptions.
The situation has been further complicated by statements from Houthi officials. Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree confirmed that his group had indeed attacked the Panama-flagged MV Blue Lagoon I, citing the vessel’s breach of a Houthi-imposed embargo on ships entering Israeli ports as the reason for the strike. Notably, Saree did not mention any attack on the Saudi-flagged MV Amjad, creating a discrepancy between the U.S. reports and the statements from the involved parties.
The Red Sea, a strategic maritime corridor, is one of the world’s most frequently used sea routes for the transportation of oil and fuel. The waterway has become increasingly volatile as the Houthis have intensified their targeting of vessels linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. These attacks have been carried out in what the Houthis describe as solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under a severe Israeli military campaign since October 7 of last year, resulting in the deaths of nearly 40,800 people.
In response to the escalating threats, the United States has taken steps to bolster security in the region. Earlier this year, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the launch of Operation Prosperity Guardian, a multinational mission aimed at countering the rising number of Houthi attacks on commercial vessels. This operation underscores the growing international concern over the safety of critical shipping lanes and the potential for broader conflict in the region.
As tensions continue to rise, the discrepancies between the various accounts of the latest incidents highlight the complexity of the situation. While Bahri’s denial offers some reassurance regarding the safety of its vessels, the ongoing threat posed by Houthi forces to maritime traffic in the Red Sea remains a significant concern for the international community. The situation underscores the fragile nature of security in this vital waterway and the broader implications for global energy supplies.–News Desk