SANAA, Yemen: An oil tanker is on fire in the Gulf of Aden after Yemen’s Houthis said they hit it with a missile.
Houthis claimed Friday a missile strike on the British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden that set the vessel on fire, the latest attack on commercial shipping by the Houthis in and around the Red Sea. They said it had targeted the Marlin Luanda on Friday evening, the oil tanker flagged with the Marshall Islands.
The operator, Trafigura told the BBC the strike caused a fire in one of the cargo tanks and firefighting equipment was being used to contain it.
According to US officials, a nearby naval ship responded to the vessel’s distress signal and there were no injuries.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) stated that the incident happened 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden.
The UKMTO said authorities had been informed and were responding to the strike, as it warned other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
The operator confirmed the vessel had been struck and military ships were on their way to provide assistance.
“Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side,” said a Trafigura spokesperson.
“The safety of the crew is our foremost priority. We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully.”
Yaha Sarea, the Houthi military spokesman, said the group used “a number of appropriate naval missiles” and Friday’s strike was “direct”.
Since November last year, the Iran-backed Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on commercial vessels sailing through the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest sea lanes, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is fighting Hamas.
The United States and Great Britain launched airstrikes against the group in response to its attacks, prompting the Houthis to warn that they would increase their attacks on shipping.
The UK and US are also targeting the Iran-backed militant group with sanctions designed to cut its financial resources.
