Houthi Attacks Escalate on Oil Tankers in Red Sea Amid Israel-Hamas War Fallout

Houthi rebels have targeted Panama-flagged and Saudi-flagged oil tankers in the Red Sea, intensifying their campaign amidst the Israel-Hamas war. The assaults, part of a larger conflict impacting regional commerce and humanitarian aid, have led to the threats of ecological disasters and destabilized maritime ecosystems.

Houthi rebels targeted a Panama-flagged oil tanker and allegedly struck a Saudi-flagged vessel in the Red Sea on Monday, according to authorities. These actions are part of the Iranian-backed rebels' broader campaign to disrupt the USD 1 trillion worth of goods traversing the Red Sea annually amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Efforts continued on Monday to salvage the Sounion oil tanker, previously hit by the Houthis and at risk of causing an ecological disaster due to its 1 million barrels of crude oil cargo. Meanwhile, in the first assault of the day, two ballistic missiles hit the Blue Lagoon I, with a third explosion occurring nearby.

Later, a drone attack targeted the Saudi-flagged tanker Amjad, carrying 2 million barrels of oil, though no damage was reported. The escalation is the latest in a series of attacks affecting civilian mariners and global commerce, as well as ecological and humanitarian stability in the region.

(With inputs from agencies.)