Saudi military reveals unmanned boat attacked tanker in Gulf of Aden

There was a failed attempted unmanned boat attack off Yemen’s Gulf of Aden coastline on 3 March, the Saudi-led coalition announced the following day.

Four images released by the Saudi Press Agency showing the apparent attempted attack. Top left: An armed guard appears to point a rifle towards the first of two approaching skiffs. Bottom left: the skiff turns to run alongside the tanker. Bottom right: The skiff seems to turn back towards the tanker, showing it has no crew. (Saudi Press Agency)

The Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki as saying the attempted attack took place on a tanker heading towards Aden when it was 90 n miles southeast of the Yemeni coastal town of Nishtun. He said it involved four boats, at least one of which was unmanned and carrying explosives.

Col Maliki did not say how the attack was thwarted or identify the perpetrators, but said the coalition is taking all necessary measures to neutralise a maritime threat that he said has evolved into a strategic issue for international security.

The Yemeni rebel group Ansar Allah (the Houthis) has carried out a series of attacks using remotely controlled boats loaded with explosives, all of which have occurred in the Red Sea. There is evidence that Iran is supplying the guidance systems to convert ordinary boats into these weapons.