A missile was launched by Houthi rebels towards a United States warship patrolling the Gulf of Aden on Friday. The warship successfully shot down the projectile, but a British vessel was also struck in the ongoing series of aggressive attacks on maritime traffic.
In a significant development, a commercial vessel was set ablaze on Friday night due to Houthi missile fire, further escalating the ongoing confrontation in the Middle East. This incident marks a major escalation in the naval conflict, making it the most significant one the US Navy has witnessed in the region in decades.
Yemen's Houthi Rebels Fire Missile at US Warship
A picture taken during an organised tour by Yemen's Huthi rebels on November 22, 2023 shows the Galaxy Leader cargo ship, seized by Huthi fighters two days earlier, at a port on the Red Sea in Yemen's province of Hodeida. The Bahamas-flagged, British-owned Galaxy Leader, operated by a Japanese firm but having links to an Israeli businessman, was headed from Turkey to India when it was seized and re-routed to Hodeida November 19, according to maritime security company Ambrey. The Huthis said the capture was in retaliation for Israel's war against Hamas, sparked by the October 7 attack by the Palestinian militants who killed 1,200 people and took around 240 hostages, according to Israeli officials.
According to the US military's Central Command, a strike was carried out by US forces on Saturday to neutralize a Houthi anti-ship missile that was targeting the Red Sea. Al-Masirah satellite news channel said airstrikes occurred in close proximity to the port city of Hodeida. However, no evaluation of the extent of the damage has been provided.
An anonymous US official stated that the recent attack on a US warship by the Houthis marks the first direct targeting of a warship since the rebels started their assaults on shipping in October. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity as no authorization had been given to discuss the incident, ABC News reported.
On Friday, the United Kingdom Maritime Operations, responsible for overseeing Mideast waterways, confirmed that a ship had been hit by a missile and was currently ablaze in the Gulf of Aden. Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi military, did not address the Carney attack.
However, he asserted responsibility for the missile attack on the commercial vessel, which resulted in its ignition. The vessel was identified as the Marlin Luanda, a tanker flagged under the Marshall Islands. Central Command has confirmed that the Marlin Luanda was hit by a single anti-ship ballistic missile, which was fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen.
The Carney and other coalition ships swiftly came to the aid of the distressed vessel, providing much-needed assistance. According to Central Command, there were no injuries. The recent attacks on US warships by the Houthis mark a significant escalation in their campaign in the Red Sea, reminiscent of the intensity seen during the Israel-Hamas war.
The US has been cautious in its portrayal of the Houthis' strikes, acknowledging the challenge of discerning their intended targets. This approach aims to mitigate the risk of the conflict escalating into a broader regional war. Regular action is now being taken by the US and its allies in Yemen, with a focus on destroying armed launch sites that are considered an imminent threat, even if they have not yet been fired upon.
According to Brad Bowman, a senior director at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, there has been a shift in acknowledging the reality of the situation. It is now being recognized that there are deliberate attempts to harm our forces and pose a threat to our lives.
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Red Sea Tensions: Houthi Attacks US Warship
The Yemeni armed forces reportedly used a series of naval missiles that they deemed appropriate for the operation. The fuel on board was of Russian origin. However, according to shipping records, the vessel is registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands, which is a collection of Pacific islands located northeast of Papua New Guinea. According to sources, the ship is also owned by a Bermuda-based company.
Authorities in the area are actively addressing the situation. Trafigura, the commodities supply firm that chartered the ship, has stated that they are currently in communication with the crew. Trafigura is headquartered in Singapore, with a regional hub located in London.
A spokesperson for Trafigura stated that on January 26, the Marlin Luanda, a tanker vessel transporting petroleum products on behalf of Trafigura, was hit by a missile while passing through the Red Sea. Firefighting equipment is currently being used to suppress and control a fire that has occurred in one of the cargo tanks on the starboard side. The well-being and security of the crew is our topmost concern.
Per AP News, the Marlin Luanda is currently being leased by Trafigura, a Singapore firm, from a group of investors who own the vessel through a company registered in Bermuda, a British Overseas Territory. The recent attacks mark the rebels' ongoing efforts to target ships in the Red Sea and nearby waters, causing significant disruptions to global trade.
Related Article: US, UK Militaries Launch New Strikes Against Houthi Targets in Yemen
