Yemeni Rebels Attack Oil Tanker in Red Sea

– A Liberian-flagged oil tanker, the Delta Atlantica, was targeted in a series of three attacks in the Red Sea on Tuesday, including one involving a bomb-carrying drone boat. These assaults are believed to be part of a broader campaign by Yemen's Houthi rebels, which has intensified amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The attacks have raised concerns over the safety of maritime trade routes that facilitate approximately $1 trillion in annual goods movement between Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. The Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational force led by the U.S. Navy, reported that the Delta Atlantica was first struck by two explosions, followed by a third attack hours later, prompting armed security personnel aboard the vessel to return fire. Another vessel, the Panama-flagged On Phoenix, also experienced an explosion nearby but reportedly sustained no damage. Since the onset of the Gaza conflict in October, the Houthis have targeted over 70 vessels, resulting in the sinking of two ships and the death of four sailors. The Houthi rebels assert that their attacks are aimed at vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the U.K., as part of their efforts to pressure these nations regarding the conflict in Gaza. However, the Joint Maritime Information Center has found no evidence connecting the Delta Atlantica to the war. The Houthis have also launched drone and missile strikes toward Israel, with a notable attack in July resulting in casualties in Tel Aviv. In response to escalating tensions, the U.S. military has increased its naval presence in the region, deploying the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group and the USS Georgia guided missile submarine to bolster security amid threats of retaliation from Iran following the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.