- Houthis target British oil tanker
- UK, US condemn attacks
- Strikes disrupt Red Sea trade
In the midst of Israel’s war on Gaza, the Houthi group, aligned with Iran, has claimed responsibility for a new missile strike against Western interests, targeting a British oil tanker transporting crude oil destined for India, identified by the United States as flying the Panama flag.
The group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, announced on television on Saturday that “a large number of appropriate naval missiles” delivered “accurate and direct” strikes against the Pollux tanker in the Red Sea.
“In defence of our beloved Yemen and as a demonstration of our ongoing practical solidarity with the Palestinian people, the Yemeni armed forces will expand and execute their military operations without hesitation,” he stated.
Saree did not specify the extent of the tanker’s damage or provide further details.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed an incident at 13:31 GMT on Friday night, approximately 70 nautical miles (130 km) northwest of Al-Mukha (Mocha), a port city southwest of Sanaa, Yemen’s capital.
The vessel reported a detonation close to the missile strike. “The military is responding,” the statement continued, adding that both the personnel and the vessel were reportedly unharmed.
The US Department of State reported on Friday that a missile launched from Yemen struck the Pollux, an oil tanker flying the Panama flag en route to India. The vessel intercepted the missile on its port side.
“This serves as another illustration of the unlawful assaults on international shipping that persist despite the Houthis having been called to cease by numerous international and joint statements,” a State Department spokesman was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Since mid-November, the Houthis have disrupted trade via the Red Sea and vowed to continue their assaults until Israel ceases its war on Gaza and humanitarian aid reaches the besieged Palestinians.
Cameron Seeks China’s Intervention
The latest missile assault by the Houthis coincides with a request by British Foreign Minister David Cameron for China to intervene.
According to a statement from the UK Foreign Office, Cameron urged his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, to pressure the Houthis regarding their Red Sea attacks using Beijing’s influence on Iran while at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.
Warships and vessels affiliated with the United States and the United Kingdom have come under attack from the Houthis since the Western allies began bombarding multiple governorates in Yemen earlier this year.
The United States has also launched separate attacks against Houthi positions in Yemen from fighter aircraft and warships, which US Central Command (CENTCOM) has labelled “self-defence strikes.”
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The United States military claimed responsibility for the most recent attack on Thursday, targeting three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles allegedly en route to engage ships in the Red Sea.
“Taking these measures will safeguard freedom of navigation and make international waters more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels.”
Thousands of additional bombs and armaments are on their way to Israel, despite the United States opposing Tel Aviv’s plans for a ground invasion of Rafah, southern Gaza, which would forcibly displace over 1.4 million Palestinians.
