Aiexpress – Britain and its allies have stated that they retain the authority to respond accordingly to the missile strike carried out by Houthi rebels on an oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden.
The Marlin Luanda erupted in flames following an assault near the coast of Yemen on Friday. This incident occurred shortly after the US-UK military took action against the Iran-backed group. Thankfully, no casualties have been reported thus far.
On Friday, military ships were on their way to provide assistance, while Trafigura, a multinational firm, emphasized that ensuring the safety of the crew on the vessel is their top priority.
According to a spokesperson from the government, they have expressed their firm stance on the matter, stating that they consider any assaults on commercial shipping to be entirely unacceptable. Furthermore, the UK and its allies emphasize that they retain the right to take appropriate measures in response.
In a previous incident, two missiles had reportedly detonated in the water resulting in no damage to the vessel or crew, ensuring their safety.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels have announced that their naval forces successfully conducted an operation in the Gulf of Aden, targeting what they claim to be a British oil tanker. According to Yahya Sarea, the Houthi military spokesperson, the attack involved the use of several naval missiles, resulting in a precise and direct strike.
The Marlin Luanda is registered under the flag of the Marshall Islands, according to shipping data.
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
A spokesperson from the UK Government stated that…
The Houthis have been carrying out attacks on vessels in the Red Sea since November due to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. However, it is worth noting that they often target ships with weak or unclear ties to Israel, thereby posing a threat to global trade on this crucial shipping route.
The UK and US are not only conducting multiple airstrikes on Houthi targets but are also implementing sanctions against important individuals within the militant group.
Despite a second series of airstrikes conducted by the UK and US at the beginning of the week, it seems that Houthi action remains largely unaffected.
According to a statement from a spokesperson at Trafigura, the Marlin Luanda, a tanker vessel responsible for transporting petroleum products on behalf of the company, was hit by a missile while passing through the Red Sea on January 26th.
Our top priority is ensuring the safety of the crew as we work to deploy firefighting equipment and control the fire in one cargo tank on the starboard side.
“We are currently staying in touch with the vessel and closely monitoring the situation. Military ships in the area are en route to offer assistance.”
Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is currently concluding a diplomatic trip to the Middle East in an effort to alleviate tensions amidst the ongoing Israeli bombardment of Gaza.
