Oil Tanker Defends Against Small Boat Near Yemen's Socotra Island

A commercial oil tanker sailing roughly 100‑200 nautical miles north‑west of Yemen's Socotra Island was approached by a small craft carrying five people. The vessel's onboard armed security team deployed to the deck; according to one report, warning shots were fired, while another said no shots were needed. The small boat altered course and withdrew, and no injuries were reported to the crew or cargo.

The incident, reported by the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), underscores heightened piracy and security threats in the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea amid ongoing regional tensions. UKMTO said threat levels in West Asian waterways remain "dangerously high" and that commercial traffic through key choke points continues to be reduced.

The agency is investigating the encounter, noting that similar suspicious approaches have occurred in the area within the past 24 hours.