MV Blaamanen

Summary

The Norwegian-flag product tanker Blaamanen was targeted by a Houthi water-borne uncrewed surface vessel in the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. The USV missed the vessel by a narrow margin — reportedly under 100 metres. No damage or crew casualties. The Norwegian Government issued a formal statement of concern; Norway does not typically route commercial tonnage through active conflict areas but the market conditions had reduced routing alternatives. The near-miss reinforced the risk assessment that USV attacks were harder to interdict than missile strikes.

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