The British oil tanker Marlin Luanda is ablaze in the Gulf of Aden following a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi militants. This incident, connected to the Iran-backed group, is the latest in the strategically crucial shipping route.
The operator of the vessel reported that it was “struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden after transiting the Red Sea.” Efforts are underway to control the fire in one cargo tank. Houthi militants claimed responsibility, citing “American-British aggression against our country [Yemen]” and expressing support for the Palestinian people.
Commodities group Trafigura, which operates the ship, stated that it is monitoring the situation, and military ships are en route to provide assistance. The British government has not yet commented on the attack.
The US Central Command reported that the ship issued a distress call after militants fired an anti-ship ballistic missile. The USS Carney and coalition ships are rendering assistance, with no reported injuries.
NASA’s FIRMS detected an ongoing blaze in the Gulf of Aden near the last known location of the Marlin Luanda. The USS Carney had earlier intercepted a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile targeting the US warship, resulting in no injuries.
The US and UK have been conducting strikes against Houthi targets, emphasizing consequences for attacks in the international shipping lane. The Houthi leader expressed a commitment to continuing attacks until the Israel-Hamas conflict concludes.
The attacks have led major shipping and oil companies to suspend transit through the crucial maritime trade route, forcing tankers to take longer routes around Africa. US intelligence officials believe Iran is carefully managing its response to the Israel-Gaza conflict, encouraging proxy groups without sparking a direct confrontation.
In Yemen, the ongoing conflict between Houthi forces and a Saudi-backed coalition has created a severe humanitarian crisis marked by famine and extreme poverty. The conflict, escalating since 2014, has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, with more than half attributed to indirect causes related to the conflict.
