Dubai:
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Tuesday they launched a military operation against the Norwegian commercial tanker Strinda in their latest operation to protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
Houthi military spokesman Yehia Sariya said in a televised statement that the group targeted the tanker with rockets after the crew refused to respond to all warnings.
He vowed that the Houthis would continue to block ships headed to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip – more than 1,000 miles away from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.
The attack on the tanker Strinda occurred at about 2100 GMT about 60 nautical miles (111 km) north of the Bab al-Mandab strait linking the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, a US official told Reuters. A second US official said that Strinda was able to move under its own power a few hours after the attack.
“There were no American ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but (U.S. Navy destroyer) USS Mason responded to M/T Strinda’s Mayday call and is currently providing assistance,” U.S. Army Central Command, which oversees the U.S. military, said. doing.” forces in the Middle East said in a statement posted on the social media platform X.
The attack caused fires and damage but caused no injuries, the US military said in a statement.
The Houthi spokesman said the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.
The ship’s Norwegian owner, Mowinkel Chemical Tankers, told Reuters the chemical tanker is now headed to a safe port. Geir Belsnes, president of Mowinkel, said all of the 22 crew members of the Strinda tanker, all from India, were safe.
Reading Yemen’s Houthis have warned that they will target all ships sailing towards Israel
The Houthis have entered the Israel-Hamas conflict – which has spread across the Middle East since October 7 – attacking ships in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel.
On Saturday, the Houthis said they would target all ships bound for Israel regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against handling Israeli ports.
The chemical tanker is Norwegian-flagged, and its Norwegian owner, Mowinkel Chemical Tankers, and manager Hansa Tankers could not immediately be reached for comment outside office hours.
Data from shiptracking firm Kpler shows the Strinda had loaded vegetable oil and biofuel in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, Italy.
It was not immediately clear whether Strinda had any ties to Israel.
The group, which rules much of Yemen, says its attacks are a show of support for Palestinians and has vowed they will continue until Israel ends its offensive on the Gaza Strip. — more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.
The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance” that have been targeting Israeli and US targets since their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel.
During the first week of December, three commercial ships were attacked in international waters, prompting US Navy destroyers to intervene.
The Houthis also seized a British-owned cargo ship last month that belonged to an Israeli company.
The United States and Britain have condemned the attacks on shipping and blamed Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran says its allies make their own decisions independently.
Saudi Arabia has asked America to exercise restraint in responding to the attacks.
