Pro-Iranian Houthi militia claims responsibility for attack on Norwegian tanker in the Red Sea
The Islamist Huthi militia in Yemen has claimed responsibility for a missile attack on a Norwegian oil tanker in the Red Sea. The pro-Iranian militia's naval units had "targeted a Norwegian oil tanker", said Huthi spokesman Jahja Saree. The tanker "Strinda" was "transporting fuel for Israel".
The US Central Command Centcom had previously announced that the tanker had been hit by a missile fired by the Houthis on Tuesday night. The cruise missile hit the "Strinda" as it was passing through the strait between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, causing damage and a fire. According to Centcom, the "Strinda" sent out a distress call and the US warship "USS Mason" rushed to the tanker's aid.
The Bab-al-Mandeb strait, where the "Strinda" was attacked, lies between Djibouti and Yemen and connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden - and therefore with the Indian Ocean. It is of great importance for global maritime trade, especially for the transportation of oil.
The Norwegian shipping company J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi confirmed the incident. According to them, no one was injured in the attack. The crew members, all Indian nationals, were able to extinguish the fire. The ship, loaded with raw materials for biofuel, was on its way from Malaysia to Italy and was now heading for a safe port, the shipping company explained.
Since the beginning of the war between Israel and Hamas, the Houthi militia in Yemen has repeatedly fired drones and missiles at Israel and attacked ships in the Red Sea. On November 19, Houthi fighters also captured the freighter "Galaxy Leader" and took its crew prisoner. The Houthi rebels see themselves as part of the self-proclaimed "Axis of Resistance" directed against Israel.
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The pro-Iranian Houthi militia's attack on the Norwegian tanker has sparked concerns in Israel, as the tanker was transporting fuel for their country. The Huthi spokesman claimed that their naval units targeted the tanker, the "Strinda", in the Red Sea. The Red Sea incident comes amidst a series of attacks by the Houthi militia against ships in the region. Despite the attack, no crew members were injured and they were able to extinguish the resulting fire.
Source: www.ntv.de
