NAIROBI (KAAB TV) — A British oil tanker came under attack on Friday after being struck by a missile launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the incident 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden, confirming that the vessel and crew are safe with no reported damage.
UKMTO had earlier reported an incident where two missiles exploded in the water.
Authorities have been informed and are responding to the latest strike. UKMTO issued a warning to other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity in the region.
The Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their naval forces targeted “the British oil tanker Marlin Luanda” in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in a fire.
Shipping data, however, indicates that the vessel sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea stated, “They used appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct.”
The British government has not yet commented on the claims.
The Houthis have been launching attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November in response to Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip.
These attacks have targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, posing a threat to shipping on a crucial route for global trade.
Despite numerous airstrikes on key Houthi targets, both the UK and the US have also imposed sanctions on key figures within the Iran-backed militant group.
A recent series of airstrikes conducted at the start of the week appears to have had little impact on deterring Houthi actions.