26 January 2024, 20:23 GMTUpdated 10 minutes agoAn oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden has ignited, according to its operator, who stated that the Houthis claimed responsibility for striking it with a missile on Friday evening. Trafigura, the operator, informed the BBC that the strike resulted in a fire in one of the ship’s cargo tanks, and efforts to contain it are underway. US officials informed the BBC’s US partner CBS that the tanker was targeted by an anti-ship ballistic missile and a naval vessel was dispatched in response to its distress signal. According to US officials, no injuries were reported. This marks the most recent assault on commercial shipping by the Houthis in and around the Red Sea. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported that the incident occurred 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden. Authorities have been notified and are taking action in response to the latest attack, with a warning issued to other vessels to exercise caution and report any suspicious activity. Trafigura verified that the vessel had been struck and military ships were en route to provide aid. A Trafigura spokesperson stated, “Firefighting equipment onboard is being utilized to extinguish and control the fire that broke out in one cargo tank on the starboard side. The safety of the crew is our top priority. We are maintaining communication with the vessel and closely monitoring the situation.” The oil tanker is registered under the Marshall Islands. Houthi military spokesperson Yaha Sarea claimed that the group employed “a number of appropriate naval missiles” and emphasized that Friday’s strike was “direct”. Since November, the Iran-backed Houthis have conducted numerous attacks on commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea, a vital shipping route, in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is engaged in conflict with Hamas. Responding to the group’s attacks, the US and UK have carried out airstrikes, prompting the Houthis to warn that they would escalate their assaults on shipping. The UK and US are also imposing sanctions on the Iran-backed militant group in order to curtail its financial resources.
