A cruise missile hit a Norwegian-flagged tanker off the coast of Yemen, causing damage. A US destroyer came to the ship’s aid. The Houthis claimed responsibility.
A merchant ship has again come under fire in the Red Sea. According to US information, the Norwegian-flagged tanker “Strinda” was attacked by Houthis north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait and hit by a cruise missile. The British Maritime Warning Center (UKMTO) also reported an incident 15 nautical miles west of the Yemeni coastal town of Mocha.
There was a fire and damage on board, but no injuries. There were no US ships in the area at the time of the attack. The “Strinda” made an emergency call, whereupon the destroyer “USS Mason” helped, the US military said.
The operator’s boss, Geir Belsnes, also confirmed the incident. The crew was uninjured and safe. The tanker is on its way to a safe port.
It is still unclear whether the tanker has a connection to Israel or was on its way there.
Houthis expand threat
Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen claimed responsibility for the incident. According to its spokesman, Yahya Saree, the ship was fired upon after the crew failed to respond to warnings.
International shipping is increasingly drawn into the war between Israel and the Iran-backed terrorist organization Hamas. The Houthis, who had threatened to prevent ships with ties to Israel from passing through the Red Sea after the outbreak of the war, recently expanded their warning to include ships of any nationality heading to Israel.
A statement last weekend said only freighters delivering aid to the Gaza Strip would be granted passage. All others would become “legitimate targets of our armed forces.”
Several merchant ships have been attacked in the region in recent weeks.