A Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden was hit by a projectile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels today, according to a U.S. official. The incident marks the 38th Houthi attack since November 19th and the second attack of the day. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although the fire sparked by the strike has caused significant damage to the vessel.
The airstrike took place yesterday at 7:45 p.m. local time. The distressed ship issued a distress signal, prompting the U.S.S. Carney and other coalition ships to provide assistance. The oil tanker, which has connections to the U.K. and operates on behalf of a multinational trading company, flies under the flag of the Marshall Islands.
The Iran-backed Houthi movement claims responsibility for targeting the Marlin Luanda, citing it as a response to American-British aggression. In retaliation, the U.S. military asserts that they acted in self-defense by striking and destroying a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea. According to U.S. Central Command, the missile posed an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region.
Throughout November, the Houthis have unleashed numerous attacks on commercial vessels transiting through the Red Sea, one of the busiest shipping lanes in the world. Consequently, companies have been forced to suspend operations in the region and redirect their vessels around South Africa, leading to a slowdown in trade.
The Houthis claim that they target vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is engaged in conflict with Hamas. As a response, the U.S. and U.K. have conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in recent days, triggering a back-and-forth exchange of hostilities between the parties.
In protest against the U.S.-British airstrikes over the Red Sea and to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, tens of thousands of people gathered in the Yemeni capital today. Meanwhile, John Kirby, the national security spokesperson, emphasized that the strikes have been effective and that other countries support the action carried out by the United States and the United Kingdom. Expressing their condemnation of the Houthi's indiscriminate and unlawful attacks on international commerce, 24 countries released a joint statement in support of the actions taken by the U.S. and its partners.
The escalating tensions and increasing number of attacks in the region have garnered significant attention. While no casualties were reported in the latest attack on the oil tanker, the damage caused underscores the need for heightened security measures to protect commercial vessels navigating through these troubled waters. The ongoing conflict between the Houthis, backed by Iran, and their adversaries in the region poses a grave threat to maritime trade and stability in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. International cooperation and diplomatic efforts will be crucial in finding a lasting solution to this escalating crisis.
