According to foreign media reports, Houthi militants in Yemen claimed to have attacked the "Scarlet Ray" oil tanker in the northern Red Sea on September 1st local time.

The vessel flies the flag of Liberia and is owned by Israel. The attack took place near the Yanbu port on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed the incident after receiving reports from the crew.

The UK Maritime and Trade Bureau provided a detailed account of the water spouts observed by the crew before hearing apparent explosions. Fortunately, no crew members were injured, and the oil tanker continued its journey to the next destination without further incidents.

The Israeli Defense Forces carried out airstrikes on the Yemeni capital of Sana'a on August 28th. On August 31st, Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi announced plans for retaliatory actions, including intensified military strikes against Israel and maritime blockades.

Furthermore, a cargo ship named "NS Pride," registered in Belize, was damaged by an explosion near the Chornomorsk port in Odesa Oblast, Ukraine, on August 31st.

This bulk carrier, built in 1988, is 95 meters long, 16 meters wide, and has a cargo capacity of around 3,376 tons. Sources informed Reuters that the vessel was affected by an unknown explosive device as it approached the port. Luckily, the explosion only caused minor damage, with no injuries reported among the crew. Local media confirmed that the ship was empty at the time of the incident and resumed its journey shortly after the event.

Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchiuk confirmed the incident, ensuring the safety of all crew members and stating that inspections were being conducted on the vessel. He highlighted the continued high risk due to remnants of explosive materials left by the Russian military in the Black Sea region.

This incident follows shortly after drone attacks by Russia on Odesa, which caused significant damage to energy infrastructure, resulting in power outages in parts of the region.

It comes on the heels of the attack on a Ukrainian Navy vessel on August 28th, which resulted in the tragic deaths of two sailors and several others missing.

Chornomorsk is a vital seaport in southern Ukraine's Odesa region and is one of the three ports currently operational in the established maritime transport corridor connecting the Black Sea with the Mediterranean Sea.