Egypt urges media accuracy after reports on ship targeted off Yemen

Egypt, in a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, once again called on Arab and international media outlets and foreign correspondents to ensure accuracy in their reporting and to obtain information on Egyptian affairs from official Egyptian sources.

The statement followed a release from the Egyptian Ministry of Transport regarding reports in various media outlets and on social media about the Houthi targeting of a ship named TIHAMA off the coast of Yemen, with claims that the operating company's address was in Alexandria, Egypt.

The ministry clarified that the ship TIHAMA is registered under the Tanzanian flag, owned by a Yemeni national, and operated by Blue Sea for Management Marine through its branch in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The vessel is not registered with Egyptian shipping chambers and does not hold a license to operate as a maritime agency through Egypt's maritime transport and logistics sector.

It added that the ship has never entered Egyptian ports, was not en route to Egypt, and was not carrying any cargo belonging to Egyptians.

The Ministry of Transport also emphasized its ongoing commitment to monitoring all developments related to Egyptian territorial waters, the safety and security of the Mediterranean and Red Seas, as well as the protection of Egyptian companies, ships, and seafarers.

The ministry urged all media outlets to verify any news related to the Egyptian Ministry of Transport and to obtain accurate information from official sources within the government of Egypt, including the Ministry of Transport itself.