Houthis Continue Red Sea Attacks

Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for a missile attack that set a British oil tanker on fire in the Gulf of Aden Friday night local time.

“In vindication of the oppressed Palestinian people, and in response to the American-British aggression against our country, Yemen naval forces targeted the British oil ship (Marlin Luanda) in the Gulf of Aden,” a spokesperson for the group said in a televised statement. “The strike was direct, and resulted in the burning of the vessel, by virtue of Allah.”

Shipping data suggests the Marlin Luanda was heading towards Singapore under the flag of the Marshall Islands. It was hit by a missile 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden in Yemen, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.

Reports suggest the tanker is carrying Russian naphtha. This fully contradicts Houthi claims that they target vessels bound for Israel of linked to Israeli interests.

This is the most serious Houthi attack since they began their war on ‘Israel-related’ vessels last October, in support of Palestinians in Gaza. That campaign now seems to have broadened to include British or American related vessels –both commercial and military.

Earlier Friday, the Houthis had fired an anti-ship missile toward USS Carney. That missile was successfully shot down, according to the US Central Command. The Houthis seem adamant to carry on with their attacks in the face of US (and UK) airstrikes that started earlier this month.