A merchant ship is on fire off the coast of Yemen after it was hit by an unknown projectile, according to a report by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
MV Sounion, managed by Greek Company Delta Tankers, was hit by the projectile, which led to a fire onboard. The ship lost power and is drifting, according to the report.
This is the second attack against Sounion, which was approached by two small crafts earlier in the day. Around the same time, two projectiles hit the ship.
It is unclear if the Houthis, which have targeted ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in protest of Israel’s bombardment of Gaza, are responsible. Houthi spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Sare’e has not posted anything on social media site X since Aug. 16. Generally, Sare’e posts any operations by the Houthis, sometimes a day after, on the site.
If the Houthis are responsible, it would be the second Delta Tankers-managed ship targeted by the Yemen-based group, according to USNI News’ timeline of Red Sea Activity.
The Houthis targeted Delta Atlantica on Aug. 12.
Houthi activity has been relatively quiet in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden over the past week. U.S. strikes on Houthi weapons and infrastructure continue, although there were no Central Command announcements between Aug. 21 and Aug. 18.
