Gas
LNG tanker fired upon off Yemeni coast
An armed boat attacked an LNG tanker near Yemen as regional security tensions escalate.
Key points
- An armed boat fired two shots at an LNG tanker southeast of Al Mukalla.
- The tanker's security team deployed warning shots to force the vessel to alter course.
- Conflict escalation in Yemen and Saudi Arabia caused reported civilian casualties.
What happened
According to Shafaq News, an armed small boat carrying seven individuals targeted a liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanker approximately 140 nautical miles southeast of Al Mukalla. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the occupants fired two shots at the vessel. The tanker's onboard security team responded with two warning shots, compelling the attackers to change course.
Additional maritime incidents occurred on the same day, including an unidentified projectile striking a vessel and a rocket-propelled grenade attack from a small boat. Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting four drones over Riyadh, the Eastern Province, and southern Saudi Arabia, according to spokesman Turki Al-Malki.
Why it matters
Ground and air clashes also intensified across Yemen. Saudi media noted airstrikes on Houthi positions near Taiz, while Yemen's internationally recognized government reported advances in the province. Rival reports from Houthi and government sources attributed numerous civilian casualties in Taiz and Dhamar provinces to opposing air strikes and shelling.
Energy infrastructure and maritime routes through the region remain vulnerable to regional conflicts. Disruptions to shipping lanes in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea present ongoing risks for global liquefied natural gas trade and maritime security.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Gas is the flexible backbone of many grids and the designated transition fuel in many national plans, from LNG trade to domestic LPG and CNG. Supply security and pricing drive both power reliability and emissions.
1.7% of electricity in Yemen came from gas in 2024Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
