Eastern Pacific Shipping’s chemical tanker Scarlet Ray reportedly survived a missile strike by Houthi forces near Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast on September 1, 2025, with no injuries or damage.
On September 1, 2025, the Liberian-flagged chemical tanker Scarlet Ray, operated by Eastern Pacific Shipping (owned by Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer), was reportedly targeted in a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels while traversing the Red Sea off the coast of Saudi Arabia. The incident marks one of the northernmost attacks by the group since the onset of their strikes on commercial vessels.Houthi troops ride on the back of a police patrol truck after participating in a Houthi gathering in Sanaa, February 19, 2020.
According to regional maritime security sources, the vessel experienced an explosion nearby—potentially from a ballistic missile—and while the blast caused no structural harm, forward motion remained unimpaired. All crew members are reported safe and accounted for, and the ship continues its voyage unhindered.
A security advisory from Trident Risk Advisory linked the attack to elevated tensions triggered by the recent death of senior Houthi officials in an Israeli airstrike. Meanwhile, Vanguard Tech noted that Saudi authorities may not tolerate further attacks so close to their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), signaling potential regional pushback if aggression persists.
This attack follows a broader pattern of Houthi actions, targeting commercial ships—especially those perceived to have Israeli links—since late 2023, often in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza conflict. Their operations have progressively escalated, prompting shipping detours, renewed naval coordination, and heightened maritime risk considerations.