[Anchor] President Trump has announced a ship-rescue operation in the Strait of Hormuz, but maritime tensions remain high. Attacks on commercial vessels continue, and analysts say piracy has surged in the Red Sea, which has become a common alternate route. This is Yerin Kim. [Reporter] Another merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was attacked. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker north of Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates was struck by an unidentified projectile. All crew members are reported safe. International outlets noted the incident occurred shortly after President Trump announced the ship-rescue operation dubbed Project Freedom. Earlier, a cargo ship was also attacked by several small boats off Sirik in southern Iran. UKMTO kept the maritime security threat level at the highest "Severe" rating, citing ongoing military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. It advised ships to cooperate with Omani authorities and to reroute south into Omani territorial waters to avoid U.S.-controlled zones. Worries are also rising in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which have emerged as alternative shipping lanes. As traffic shifted into the Red Sea, reports indicate Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have linked up with Somali pirates and stepped up crimes such as tanker hijackings. Analysts warn that pirates have exploited security gaps while states focus on countering the Houthi missile threat. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the United States and Iran to jointly reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Emmanuel Macron / President of France: "That is the only solution to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow free navigation without restrictions or tolls." AFP reported more than 900 merchant ships remain stranded in the Gulf. After two months of maritime blockade, security threats across Middle Eastern waters have peaked. This is Yerin Kim for Yonhap News TV. [Video editing: Il-hwan Noh] [Graphics: Hyung-seo Kim] [News Review] Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Yerin Kim (yey@yna.co.kr)
Is the Red Sea the New Hotspot? How Piracy is Surging Amidst Strait of Hormuz Crisis
Kim Ye-rin | 2026.05.05
[Anchor] President Trump has announced a ship-rescue operation in the Strait of Hormuz, but maritime tensions remain high. Attacks on commercial vessels continue, and analysts say piracy has surged in the Red Sea, which has become a common alternate route. This is Yerin Kim. [Reporter] Another merchant vessel transiting the Strait of Hormuz was attacked. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that a tanker north of Fujairah port in the United Arab Emirates was struck by an unidentified projectile. All crew members are reported safe. International outlets noted the incident occurred shortly after President Trump announced the ship-rescue operation dubbed Project Freedom. Earlier, a cargo ship was also attacked by several small boats off Sirik in southern Iran. UKMTO kept the maritime security threat level at the highest "Severe" rating, citing ongoing military operations in the Strait of Hormuz. It advised ships to cooperate with Omani authorities and to reroute south into Omani territorial waters to avoid U.S.-controlled zones. Worries are also rising in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, which have emerged as alternative shipping lanes. As traffic shifted into the Red Sea, reports indicate Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels have linked up with Somali pirates and stepped up crimes such as tanker hijackings. Analysts warn that pirates have exploited security gaps while states focus on countering the Houthi missile threat. Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron urged the United States and Iran to jointly reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Emmanuel Macron / President of France: "That is the only solution to permanently reopen the Strait of Hormuz and allow free navigation without restrictions or tolls." AFP reported more than 900 merchant ships remain stranded in the Gulf. After two months of maritime blockade, security threats across Middle Eastern waters have peaked. This is Yerin Kim for Yonhap News TV. [Video editing: Il-hwan Noh] [Graphics: Hyung-seo Kim] [News Review] Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Yerin Kim (yey@yna.co.kr)
Recommended Posts
Japan's Potential Deployment in Hormuz: What Happens if US-Iran War Ceases?
Iran Conflict: Will US Troops Secure Uranium Before Peace Talks?
Unraveling the Mystery: What Hit the HMM Cargo Ship in the Strait of Hormuz?
6 Injured in Abu Dhabi Missile Strike: Is the Gulf Region Safe?
Israel's Ground Offensive: What You Need to Know About the 98th Division's Target Operations in Southern Lebanon
Kabul Hospital Bombing: Taliban Claims 400 Dead in Alleged Pakistani Airstrike - What Really Happened?
Latest Popular Posts
Real-time TOP
