Houthi missile damages oil tanker off Yemen

A Panamanian oil tanker was hit by a missile near Yemen, causing a fire and minor damage, according to maritime safety sources.

Partagez:

A Panamanian-flagged oil tanker was hit by a missile around 10 nautical miles southwest of Mokha, Yemen. The attack, reported by British maritime safety company Ambrey, caused a fire in the ship’s steering compartment. Fortunately, one of the flight controls remained functional and the crew was able to get help quickly.

Reactions and safety measures

The British Maritime Safety Agency UKMTO also confirmed the attack, mentioning that the ship had suffered minor damage but that the crew was unharmed. The incident took place 98 nautical miles south of Hodeidah, correcting an initial estimate of 76 nautical miles northwest of the city. The attack has not yet been claimed, but the Houthi rebels, who control Hodeidah, are strongly suspected.

Geopolitical and security context

Since November, the Houthis have carried out numerous drone and missile strikes against ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, as well as against strategic energy installations. These actions are seriously disrupting world maritime trade in this strategic zone. Allies of Iran, the Houthis justify their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza, following the escalation of the conflict with Israel that began on October 7.

International response

In response to the continuing attacks, Israel’s allies the United States formed a multinational force in December to secure shipping in the Red Sea. In addition, in January, the United States and the United Kingdom launched strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen to protect ships sailing in these waters.
The recent incident off the coast of Yemen illustrates the continuing risks to maritime trade in the region. The situation remains tense, and international cooperation is crucial to ensure the safety of shipping routes.

The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz places Gulf producers under intense pressure, highlighting their diplomatic and logistical limitations as a blockage threatens 20 million daily barrels of hydrocarbons destined for global markets.
Budapest and Bratislava jointly reject the European Commission's proposal to ban Russian energy supplies, highlighting significant economic risks and a direct threat to their energy security, days ahead of a key meeting.
Libya officially contests Greece's allocation of offshore oil permits, exacerbating regional tensions over disputed maritime areas south of Crete, rich in hydrocarbons and contested by several Mediterranean states.
Hungary, supported by Slovakia, strongly expresses opposition to the European Commission's plan to phase out imports of Russian energy resources, citing major economic and energy impacts for Central Europe.
Israeli military strikes on Iran's Natanz nuclear site destroyed critical electrical infrastructure but did not reach strategic underground facilities, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The French president travels to Nuuk on 15 June to support Greenlandic sovereignty, review energy projects and respond to recent US pressure, according to the Élysée.
Kazakhstan has selected Rosatom and China National Nuclear Corporation to build two nuclear power plants totaling 2.4 GW, a decision following a favorable referendum and coinciding with Xi Jinping’s upcoming strategic visit.
Israeli strikes against Iranian nuclear sites disrupt US-Iranian talks on the nuclear deal. Tehran now considers canceling the upcoming negotiation round in Oman, heightening regional economic concerns.
Facing alarming breaches of uranium enrichment thresholds by Iran and explicit existential threats, Israel launches targeted military strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure, escalating regional tensions dramatically.
The Kremlin has confirmed that Vladimir Putin aims to help resolve the nuclear dispute between the United States and Iran, leveraging strengthened strategic ties with Tehran.
President Lee Jae-myung adopts an energy diplomacy rooted in national interest, amid a complex international landscape of rivalries that could create challenging situations for the country and its energy businesses.
Paris and Warsaw held a bilateral workshop in Warsaw to strengthen coordination on electricity infrastructure investments and supply security under the Nancy Treaty.
Donald Trump firmly rejects any uranium enrichment by Iran, while Russia affirms Tehran’s right to civil nuclear power, intensifying tensions in negotiations over the Iranian nuclear program.
Syria has signed a $7bn agreement with a consortium of companies from Qatar, Turkey and the United States to rebuild its national power sector.
Friedrich Merz confirmed that Germany would block any attempt to relaunch the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite internal calls suggesting a potential reopening of dialogue with Moscow.
A memorandum of understanding formalises energy cooperation between the European Union and the Latin American Energy Organization, including permanent EU participation in the organisation’s governance bodies.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced that Hungary would oppose the EU's plan to ban Russian energy deliveries by 2027, both legally and politically.
Michael Kretschmer, Minister-President of Saxony, proposed restarting dialogue with Russia on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, despite clear opposition from the German government to any reactivation of the project.
Donald Trump is calling on the United Kingdom to abandon wind energy in favor of revitalizing offshore oil extraction, sparking debate over the economic and political implications of such an energy strategy after their recent trade agreement.
China and Egypt concluded over 30 energy-focused agreements, including electric vehicles, smart grids and storage technologies.