Published 01/27/2024 09:42
US forces destroyed an anti-ship missile belonging to Yemen's Houthi rebels on Saturday (27) after an Iranian-backed operation attacked a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) in the region announced that it carried out a strike this Saturday against an “anti-ship missile that was poised to launch into the Red Sea”.
“The forces destroyed the missile in self-defense,” Centcom X added on the social network.
Hours earlier, the Houthis, who control Yemen's capital Sana'a, said they had fired “missiles” at the “British oil tanker Marlin Luanda”. The ship caught fire.
“Marlene Luanda” operates on behalf of Trafigura Group, which said in a statement this Saturday that no victims had been reported. The company said that the fire on the ship is yet to be contained.
Rebel army spokesman Yahya Saree said in a statement that the attack was carried out in solidarity with the Palestinian people and “in response to British and American aggression against our country”.
Maritime risk firm Ambre had previously reported that a merchant ship off the coast of Yemen had been hit by a missile and caught fire.
Centcom confirmed the attack and said, “The ship issued a distress call and reported damage. The USS Carney and other coalition ships (International in the Red Sea) responded and assisted. No injuries were reported.”
The Houthi television channel 'Al Masira' reported on Saturday that the US and the UK had launched airstrikes against Ras Issa port in Hodeidah province, home to the country's main oil export terminal.
Since November, the Houthis, in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, have attacked ships in the Red Sea that they consider linked to Israeli interests.
The campaign of attacks disrupted maritime transport and led to retaliatory attacks by the United States and the United Kingdom. The Houthis have declared that the interests of both powers are legitimate targets.
