Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi terrorist group fired a missile at a tanker carrying Russian fuel through the Gulf of Aden on Friday, undermining Houthi claims that Russian and Chinese cargo would not be targeted and threatening energy industry It caused anxiety throughout.
trading company trafigura Said On Friday, a Houthi missile hit a fuel tanker. Marlin Luanda The ship was carrying Russian naphtha, a petroleum product used to make plastics and refine fuel.
After the missile hit, a fire broke out in one of the cargo tanks, and the crew took out fire extinguishing equipment. A few hours after the attack, Trafigura report The fire was “fully extinguished” with no injuries to the crew, and the ship was “on route to a safe port.”
A view of the oil tanker Merlin Luanda, which went up in flames after an attack in the Gulf of Aden, January 26, 2024 (Indian Navy via Associated Press)
Another ship carrying crude oil reversed course and fled the Gulf of Aden shortly after the attack. Marlin Luanda. U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) answered It destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile that was “ready to launch” and “posed an imminent threat to merchant shipping and U.S. naval vessels in the region.”
crude oil price Rose It fell to 1% on Monday as traders grew concerned about the flow of oil through the Red Sea. Friday’s missile attack was the Houthi’s most serious attack on an oil tanker yet and the first sign that Russian oil may not be safe from Iran-backed Yemeni rebels. Ta. Russia’s oil industry was already dealing with production and supply disruptions from the war with Ukraine.
Houthi delegation visited Moscow will meet Thursday with Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov to discuss the security situation in the Red Sea.Talks ended with Moscow joining The Houthis “strongly condemn the missile and bomb attacks launched by the United States and the United Kingdom” against Houthi missile bases.
In this handout image provided by the UK Ministry of Defence, a Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon aircraft flies to join the US-led coalition conducting airstrikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen in Akrotiri on January 11, 2024. takes off from Akrotiri Royal Air Force. Cyprus. (MoD Crown copyright from Getty Images)
A Houthi spokesman claimed Friday’s attack targeted a “British ship” but made no mention of the Russian cargo. Marlin Luanda teeth managed A London-based company called Oceanics Services Limited was allowed to transport the Russian fuel because the cargo was sold below list price. price ceiling The tax was imposed on Russian exports at the end of 2022 to prevent Russia from using oil profits to finance attacks on Ukraine.
Tankers could start following container ships and detouring around Africa to avoid the Red Sea and Suez Canal, but this would add crushing shipping costs to Russian exports. The alternative route would also take at least two weeks longer than the Red Sea route, potentially leaving tankers occupied for longer periods of time and causing supply issues.
