A Cameroonian-flagged tanker caught fire off the coast of Yemen after being struck by an unidentified projectile, reigniting fears over escalating threats to maritime navigation in the region despite the ongoing ceasefire in Gaza.
The vessel, MV Falcon, was sailing approximately 113 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s port city of Aden, according to the European Union Naval Force’s operation EUNAVFOR ASPIDES in the Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and Gulf region. Reports indicate that about 15% of the tanker is engulfed in flames, with the risk of explosion looming.
The British maritime security firm Ambrey reported that the tanker was en route from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti. Although it is not categorized among ships specifically targeted by the Houthi movement, Ambrey noted that MV Falcon had previously appeared on a 2022 sanctions evasion list compiled by the group United Against Nuclear Iran.
Following the explosion, the tanker’s crew issued a distress call, and a search and rescue operation was promptly launched. The European Union naval force deployed a rapid response team to assist in evacuating the crew.
So far, 24 crew members have been rescued by passing vessels, while the fate of two individuals remains unknown. All crew members, except one, were Indian nationals; the remaining member was Ukrainian.
The Iranian-backed Houthi armed group, operating inside Yemen, has repeatedly targeted commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Their attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt its military campaign in Gaza, causing disruptions in one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes.
While the Houthis temporarily ceased attacks during the first Gaza ceasefire brokered by the United States in March, hostilities resumed following the collapse of negotiations and renewed fighting in the Gaza Strip.
No group has claimed responsibility for Saturday’s attack on MV Falcon.
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