The UK government has stated that Britain and its allies “reserve the right to respond appropriately” after an oil tanker was struck and set alight off the coast of Yemen.
Rishi Sunak warns of further Yemen airstrikes if Houthi attacks continue Read more
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed their naval forces carried out an operation targeting what they described as the “British oil tanker Marlin Luanda” in the Gulf of Aden. Shipping data suggests the vessel sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.
They used ”appropriate naval missiles, the strike was direct”, the Houthi military spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement.
The US military has also confirmed the attack, posting a statement on X saying “Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker”.
The statement adds that the ship issued a distress call and reported damage, but no injuries have been reported so far, adding that “other coalition ships have responded and are rendering assistance”.
Commodities group Trafigura said the vessel was operated on its behalf.
The company, which has offices in Britain, said firefighting equipment on board was being deployed to control the flames and that the safety of the crew was its “foremost priority”.
A Trafigura spokesperson said: ”Earlier on 26 January, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea.
“Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side. The safety of the crew is our foremost priority.
“We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully. Military ships in the region are under way to provide assistance.”
A UK government spokesperson said: “We are aware of reports that the M/V Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden. Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene.
“We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.”
The tanker was carrying Russian naphtha bought below the price cap in line with G7 sanctions, a Trafigura spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the vessel Free Spirit, chartered by Vitol to carry crude oil, U-turned before reaching the Gulf of Aden shortly after the attack on the Marlin Luanda, according to data from LSEG.
The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
But they have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key route for global trade.
Alongside numerous airstrikes on key Houthi targets, the UK and US are also targeting key…
2024-01-26 22:17:03
Article from www.theguardian.com