(AFP) – Yemen’s Iranian-backed Houthi rebels on Saturday claimed an attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea the day before, the latest in a series of attacks that have led to retaliation from Britain and the United States. be.
The Houthis claimed the ship was British-made, but the U.S. military later said it was Danish-made.
Rebel spokesman Yahya Salih said in a statement that the Houthi navy “carried out an operation targeting the British oil tanker Pollux in the Red Sea” with missiles.
He did not say how the rebels determined the ship’s links to “Britain.”
The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that four anti-ship ballistic missiles were fired from Houthi-held areas in Yemen between Friday afternoon and 1:00 a.m. Saturday (10:00 p.m. Japan time).
“At least three missiles…were fired at the Panamanian-flagged, Danish-owned, Panamanian-flagged MT Pollux,” CENTCOM said in a statement on social media.
It added that it had “successfully conducted two self-defense strikes against one mobile anti-ship cruise missile and one mobile unmanned surface vessel” in Yemen, adding that it “posed an imminent threat to U.S. naval vessels and commercial vessels in the region.” ” he said. .
The attack took place on the same day that Washington’s redesignation of the Houthis as a terrorist organization and accompanying sanctions took effect.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson said Friday that the ship was able to continue its voyage.
Security firm Ambry said the tanker sustained “minor damage” in the missile attack northwest of Yemen’s Mokha port.
For Western countries dependent on imports, costs will rise as long as the Houthis continue to close the Red Sea. https://t.co/jaKab0GdSJ
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 21, 2023
The attack comes after the U.S. military announced earlier Friday that it had carried out strikes “on three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles that were preparing to launch against ships in the Red Sea in Houthi-held areas of Yemen.” It was conducted.
In December, the United States announced Operation Prosperity Guardian, a maritime security initiative to protect ships in this area.
The US and UK repeatedly attacked Houthi targets but were unable to stop the rebel attacks.
The organization claims it is targeting ships linked to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is waging a bloody war against Hamas in retaliation for the October 7 attack. are doing.
The attack caused significant disruption to international shipping, with many companies choosing to divert ships thousands of kilometers (miles) around the southern tip of Africa to avoid the Red Sea.
The Houthis have been at war with Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2014, controlling much of the north, including the capital Sanaa and most of the populated areas.
European Union foreign ministers will meet in Brussels on Monday to formally launch their own naval mission to protect international shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks, officials announced Friday.
