An oil tanker, the Marlin Luanda, has caught fire in the Red Sea following a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi fighters. The ship’s operator, Trafigura, confirmed that the vessel was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea. In response to the attack, firefighting equipment onboard is being used to suppress and control the fire caused in one of the cargo tanks on the starboard side.
The United States military has reacted by destroying a Houthi antiship missile in Yemen, which was aimed into the Red Sea and ready to launch. The missile was seen as an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region. This action by the US military followed the Houthi rebels’ attack on the British fuel tanker.
Another picture appearing to show the fire on the ship’s deckCredit: X
The crew of the Marlin Luanda took precautionary measures, boarding lifeboats, but no injuries have been reported. The US Navy ship USS Carney and a French frigate responded to the ship’s distress call. The incident occurred 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden in Yemen, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The Houthi group, backed by Iran, has claimed responsibility for the attack, stating it was in support “of the oppressed Palestinian people” and in response to “the American-British aggression against our country.” They have been launching attacks on shipping in the Red Sea since November, in response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. These attacks have been disrupting a key trade route, forcing some vessels to take longer routes.
The UK government has condemned the attacks on commercial shipping as “completely unacceptable,” reserving the right to respond appropriately. Meanwhile, the US and the UK have launched air raids on Houthi targets in response to these attacks.
