Two Vessels Damaged in Attacks Off Yemen's Hodeidah

A handout screen grab taken from a video released by the Houthis security media center shows firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire at a power plant following Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah city, Yemen, 29 September 2024.  EPA/HOUTHIS SECURITY MEDIA CENTER / HANDOUT HANDOUT
A handout screen grab taken from a video released by the Houthis security media center shows firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire at a power plant following Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah city, Yemen, 29 September 2024. EPA/HOUTHIS SECURITY MEDIA CENTER / HANDOUT HANDOUT
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Two Vessels Damaged in Attacks Off Yemen's Hodeidah

A handout screen grab taken from a video released by the Houthis security media center shows firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire at a power plant following Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah city, Yemen, 29 September 2024.  EPA/HOUTHIS SECURITY MEDIA CENTER / HANDOUT HANDOUT
A handout screen grab taken from a video released by the Houthis security media center shows firefighters attempt to extinguish the fire at a power plant following Israeli airstrikes on Hodeidah city, Yemen, 29 September 2024. EPA/HOUTHIS SECURITY MEDIA CENTER / HANDOUT HANDOUT

Two vessels sustained damage after being hit with suspected Houthi missiles and a sea drone off Yemen's Hodeidah port early on Tuesday, maritime security agencies and sources monitoring the area said.
Both vessels reported that their crews were safe.
One of the vessels, which sources said was a Panama-flagged tanker, reported being hit by an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV) 64 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said.
It was damaged on its port side ballast tank, British security firm Ambrey said, adding that it was proceeding to its port of call.
The vessel had earlier reported seeing four splashes on the water close to it, which a maritime security source said were attempted missile attacks.

The second vessel, which sources said was a Liberia-flagged bulker, sustained damage after it was hit by a missile about 97 nautical miles northwest of Hodeidah, Ambrey and maritime security sources said. The firm said it was bound for Suez.

Houthis have targeted more than 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the war in Gaza started in October. They have seized one vessel and sank two in the campaign that has also killed four sailors. Other missiles and drones have either been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or failed to reach their targets, which have included Western military vessels.

The last attack on a merchant ship by the Houthis came on Sept. 2.
The Houthis also continue to launch missiles targeting Israel, drawing retaliatory airstrikes from the Israelis this weekend on Hodeidah.
 



Libya Preparing to Restart Oil Output as Central Bank Crisis Eases

A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Libya Preparing to Restart Oil Output as Central Bank Crisis Eases

A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A view of the Central Bank of Libya in Tripoli, Libya, August 26, 2024. (Reuters)

Libya was preparing to restart oil production that has been shut since late of August after an agreement on a new head of the central bank was reached, two oilfield engineers told Reuters on Tuesday.

"We are now waiting for orders from the Corporation (the state oil firm) to resume production at its normal levels after a month-long stoppage," said an engineer from the Jalu 59 oilfield.

An engineer from the El-Feel oilfield said they took advantage of the almost one-month closure to carry out maintenance.

National production and export operations were stopped in August when the parallel government in eastern Libya declared the closure of oil facilities in a protest of the ousting of veteran Central Bank of Libya (CBL) governor Sadiq Kabir by the Presidential Council in Tripoli.

A new CBL governor, Naji Mohamed Issa Belgasem, and his deputy, Mari Muftah Rahil Barrasi were approved on Monday by the two legislative bodies; the east-based House of Representatives in Benghazi and High State Council in Tripoli.

Belgasem and Barrasi took an oath before parliament on Tuesday during a televised session.

Libya's National Oil Corporation said on Aug. 28 that oil production had dropped by more than half of typical levels. It has not made public any new production figures since then.

Libya's oil output has been disrupted repeatedly in the chaotic decade since the country divided in 2014 between two administrations in its east and west following the NATO-backed uprising that toppled Moammar al-Gaddafi in 2011.