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Tanker boarded by armed group off Yemen
AP News • • world
Key Points:
- A chemical tanker, the Tanzania-flagged Asana, was boarded by an armed group believed to be Somali pirates off the coast of Yemen in the Gulf of Aden, according to the UK Maritime Trade Operations Center and British maritime security firm Ambrey.
- The tanker, which lacked an armed security team, issued a distress call and a Korean naval vessel was dispatched to assist.
- This incident is part of a recent increase in maritime attacks near Yemen, a country suffering from a prolonged civil war involving Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a Saudi-led coalition.
- The European Union recently signed a deal with Djibouti to strengthen naval security in the Red Sea amid threats from Houthi rebels, highlighting the strategic importance of this vital waterway.
- Somali pirates have been extending their activities further into the Gulf of Aden, with a recent attack reported on July 1 near southeastern Yemen.
