UKMTO: Tanker chased by skiff east of Aden as Red Sea tensions rise again

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said Thursday it had received a report of a tanker chased by a skiff that tried to stop it, about 75 nautical miles (139 kilometers) east of the Yemeni port of Aden.

In a notice on the X platform, UKMTO said: “A westbound tanker has reported being followed by a skiff which attempted to stop it.” UKMTO said authorities were investigating the incident and advised vessels in the area to exercise heightened caution.

The incident comes amid high tension in the Red Sea and around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, where Iran-backed Houthis have strengthened their military presence and intensified attacks on merchant ships in recent weeks. Merchant vessels transiting this key route have been constantly targeted, pushing freight rates to their highest levels in many years.

Source: Al Jazeera