British Authority: Shooting at a gas tanker off the coast of Yemen

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The British Maritime Trade Operations Authority announced, on Saturday, that it had received a report of a security incident targeting a liquefied natural gas tanker 140 nautical miles southeast of the city of Mukalla, eastern Yemen.

The authority said, in a warning issued on October 17, that a small boat with seven people on board approached the tanker and fired two gunshots at it.

She added that the armed security team on board the tanker responded by firing two warning shots, prompting the boat to change its course.

The Authority called on ships passing through the area to be cautious and to report any suspicious activities, noting that the competent authorities are continuing to investigate the incident.

The Commander of the European Union Naval Force "UNAFOR Aspides", Admiral Vassilios Gribaris, had considered that commercial navigation in the Red Sea "is still fraught with challenges and fluctuations", in light of the escalation of threats from the Houthi militias, calling on ships to "exercise extreme vigilance."

In an exclusive interview with Al-Arabiya.net/Al-Hadath.net, a few days ago, Griparis stressed that “the operation continues to closely monitor developments, and adhere to its defensive mission to protect commercial ships and sailors and ensure freedom of navigation, in accordance with international law.”

He added, “We strongly urge commercial vessels operating in the region to exercise vigilance, conduct appropriate risk assessments, follow the latest maritime security guidelines, and apply established best management practices.”

Moreover, Gribaris revealed a significant increase in requests for protection and support that the mission received from commercial ships following the Houthi escalation beginning last July, as he explained that the operation received 239 requests for support from commercial ships during September 2026 alone.