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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) warned vessels sailing off Yemen on Monday to remain on alert after a tanker was approached by six small boats in the latest security incident near one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
The advisory came as Iran announced over the weekend that the Strait of Hormuz was closed to shipping traffic, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reportedly opened fire on two vessels on Monday, raising concerns that Houthi forces in Yemen could also step up attacks and disrupt maritime traffic through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
According to UKMTO, a tanker traveling east through the Internationally Recommended Transit Corridor (IRTC), about 50 nautical miles south of Aden, reported that six small boats approached from its starboard side.
One of the boats closed to within five cables of the tanker, prompting the armed security team on board to fire warning shots. The other five boats remained about one nautical mile away before the incident ended.
Authorities are investigating the encounter.
UKMTO urged ships operating in the area to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity immediately, as commercial shipping continues to face elevated security risks in waters off Yemen.
No group has claimed responsibility for the incident off Yemen, and UKMTO has not linked the approaching boats to any armed group.
The incident comes as regional tensions continue to mount following Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, fueling concerns that Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi movement could intensify attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, as it has previously threatened.
In June, the Houthis imposed a "complete and total ban" on Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, warning that Israeli-linked vessels would be targeted as part of their campaign backing Iran and the Palestinians.
The Bab al-Mandab Strait, separating Yemen from Djibouti and Eritrea, links the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden and serves as the southern gateway to the Suez Canal.
Roughly 10% of global seaborne trade passes through the waterway, along with an estimated 6.2 million barrels of crude oil and petroleum products each day, making it one of the world's most strategically important maritime chokepoints.
The strait also serves as a key alternative export corridor for Gulf producers, particularly Saudi Arabia, allowing some oil shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz during periods of heightened regional tensions.
Commercial vessels have faced frequent attacks and security incidents in the region since late 2023.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched missile and drone strikes against merchant ships transiting the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, while UKMTO has recorded numerous incidents involving armed assailants and suspicious small boats approaching commercial vessels off Yemen.
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