A Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, the Marlin Luanda, was hit by a missile launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels, sparking a fire that raged for hours onboard the vessel. The attack further complicated the Red Sea crisis, which has been intensified by the Houthi rebels' attacks on Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The tanker, carrying flammable oil known as naphtha, drew attention not only to the escalating violence but also to the involvement of various international players in this conflict.
The United States military's Central Command reported that it conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea. This action was taken after the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, had to shoot down a Houthi missile targeting it. The Marlin Luanda, with its crew of 25 Indian nationals and two Sri Lankans, continued to battle the blaze caused by the missile strike, but fortunately, no one was injured. Singapore-based trading firm Trafigura confirmed that the fire has been fully extinguished, and the vessel is now sailing towards a safe harbor.
