On December 12, the oil tanker ARDMORE ENCOUNTER (Marshall Islands) was attacked by Houthi rebels while transiting about 50 nautical miles east of the port of Al Hodeidah (Yemen), south of the Red Sea.
Coming from Mangalore (India) to Suez, the vessel was carrying a cargo of jet fuel destined for Rotterdam (Netherlands) or Gavle (Sweden), according to the shipowner.
Initially, a skiff approached the ship and opened fire in its direction. Security guards on board returned fire, forcing the attackers to flee. A short time later, the ship was contacted by VHF and ordered to enter Yemeni waters. The ship refused to comply and continued on its way. Two missiles were then fired from the Yemeni coast without hitting their targets. An American frigate in the area also reportedly shot down a suspected drone. No one was injured in the attack.
The attack was the tenth carried out by Houthi rebels in the past month.
