The attack occurred about 210 kilometers east of Aden, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center. The private security firm Ambrey said the ship, a Cameroon-flagged tanker traveling from Sohar, Oman, to Djibouti, had caught fire, prompting a search-and-rescue operation.
The vessel is believed to be the Falcon, a Cameroon-flagged liquefied petroleum gas tanker previously linked to an alleged Iranian “ghost fleet” that moves oil products despite sanctions, according to the group United Against Nuclear Iran. Its owners and operators, listed in India, were not immediately reachable for comment.
The incident comes amid a series of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea. The group has not claimed responsibility, though it often delays such statements.
The Houthis, who gained prominence during the Israel-Hamas war through their attacks on ships and Israel, have recently escalated threats against Saudi Arabia and detained dozens of UN and aid workers, accusing them—without evidence—of espionage.
