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Associated Press

A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels slammed into a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen near a key maritime chokepoint, the rebels and authorities said Tuesday.
The assault on the oil and chemical tanker Strinda expands a campaign by the Iranian-backed rebels targeting ships close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait into apparently now striking those that have no clear ties to Israel.
That potentially imperils cargo and energy shipments coming through the Suez Canal and further widens the international impact of the war between Israel and Hamas now raging in the Gaza Strip.
Houthi military spokesperson Brigadier General Yahya Saree issued a video statement saying the rebels only fired on the vessel when it “rejected all warning calls”.


The US military’s Central Command issued a statement Tuesday saying an anti-ship cruise missile “launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen” hit the Strinda.
“There were no US ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason responded … and is currently rendering assistance,” Central Command said. The Mason is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been involved in several of the recent incidents off Yemen.
Helicopter-borne Houthi attack on ship raises risks in Red Sea
The private intelligence firms Ambrey and Dryad Global had earlier confirmed the attack happened near the crucial Bab el-Mandeb Strait separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula.
Geir Belsnes, the CEO of the Strinda’s operator, J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, also confirmed the attack took place.
“All crew members are unhurt and safe,” Belsnes said. “The vessel is now proceeding to a safe port.”
The Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal and then on to Italy with a cargo of palm oil, Belsnes said. Saree alleged without offering any evidence that the ship was bound for Israel.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, which provides warnings to sailors in the Middle East, earlier reported a fire aboard an unidentified vessel off Mokha, Yemen, with all the crew aboard being safe.
The coordinates of that fire correspond to the last known location of the Strinda based off satellite tracking data analysed by Associated Press.

The Norwegian-Flagged Oil/Chemical Tanker, M/V Strinda in the Bab al-Mandab Strait was reportedly Struck earlier tonight by at least 1 Missile which was launched by the Houthi Terrorist Group in Yemen causing a Large Fire onboard the Ship; the USS Mason (DDG-87), an Arleigh… pic.twitter.com/grouVsejzM
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 12, 2023

The Houthis have carried out a series of attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and also launched drones and missiles targeting Israel.
In recent days, they have threatened to attack any vessel they believe is either going to or coming from Israel, though there was no immediate apparent link between the Strinda and Israel.
Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said over the weekend that Israel has called on its Western allies to address the threats from Yemen and would give them “some time” to organise a response. But he said if the threats persist, “we will act to remove this blockade”.
Houthis threaten to hit Israel-bound Red Sea ships unless aid enters Gaza
Analysts suggest the Houthis hope to shore up waning popular support after years of civil war in Yemen between it and Saudi-backed forces.
France and the United States have stopped short of saying their ships were targeted in rebel attacks, but have said Houthi drones have headed toward their ships and were shot down in self defence.
Washington so far has declined to directly respond to the attacks, as has Israel, whose military continues to describe the ships as not having links to their country.

Global shipping has increasingly been targeted as the Gaza war threatens to become a wider regional conflict – even during a brief pause in fighting during which Hamas exchanged hostages for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
The collapse of the truce and the resumption of a punishing Israeli ground offensive and air strikes on Gaza have raised the risk of more sea attacks.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is only 29km (18 miles) wide at its narrowest point, limiting traffic to two channels for inbound and outbound shipments, according to the US Energy Information Administration. Nearly 10 per cent of all oil traded at sea passes through it.
In November, Houthis seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen.
The rebels still hold the vessel near the port city of Hodeida. Separately, a container ship owned by an Israeli billionaire came under attack by a suspected Iranian drone in the Indian Ocean.
A separate, tentative ceasefire between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition fighting on behalf of Yemen’s exiled government has held for months despite that country’s long war.
That’s raised concerns that any wider conflict in the sea – or a potential reprisal strike from Western forces – could reignite those tensions in the Arab world’s poorest nation.
In 2016, the US launched Tomahawk cruise missiles that destroyed three coastal radar sites in Houthi-controlled territory to retaliate for missiles being fired at US Navy ships at the time.


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Houthi cruise missile strikes Norwegian tanker in Red Sea off Yemen

Yemen’s Houthis have threatened to attack ships in the Red Sea since seizing the Galaxy Leader (pictured) in November. File photo: Reuters

The American destroyer USS Mason responded to the Strinda’s distress call. File photo: US Navy

Yemen’s Houthis threaten to attack Israel-bound Red Sea ships unless aid enters Gaza

The Galaxy Leader cargo ship, seized by the Houthis offshore of the Al-Salif port on the Red Sea in Yemen’s Hodeidah, on December 5. Photo: EPA-EFE

US warship shoots down drones as commercial vessels hit by Houthi attack in Red Sea

The USS Carney shooting at Houthi missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles in the Red Sea in October. File photo: US Navy

The guided-missile destroyer USS Carney. File photo: US Navy

A Houthi forces helicopter approaching the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea in November. Photo: Houthi Media Centre via AP

Yemen Houthis seize ship in Red Sea with link to Israeli company, take crew members hostage

The Galaxy Leader in 2018. File photo: Owen Foley via Reuters

Helicopter-borne Houthi attack on Galaxy Leader cargo ship raises risks in crucial Red Sea

A Houthi forces helicopter approaching the Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea on Sunday. Photo: Houthi Media Centre via AP

Houthi rebels in boats surrounding the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea. Photo: Houthi Media Centre via dpa

Houthi rebels boarding the Galaxy Leader. Photo: Houthi Media Centre via AP

Houthi rebels seizing control of the bridge of the Galaxy Leader. Photo: Houthi Media Centre via dpa

News

World

Middle East

Norwegian-flagged tanker Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal when it was stuck by a missile
In recent days, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have said they would attack ships that have links to or were sailing toward Israel


The tanker was heading to Italy when it was hit by the missile. The attack worsens risks in the crucial waterway for global trade.


Yemen

War and conflict

Israel

US-Iran tensions

Houthi cruise missile strikes Norwegian tanker in Red Sea off Yemen

Norwegian-flagged tanker Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal when it was stuck by a missile In recent days, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have said they would attack ships that have links to or were sailing toward Israel

Norwegian-flagged tanker Strinda was coming from Malaysia and was bound for the Suez Canal when it was stuck by a missile

In recent days, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have said they would attack ships that have links to or were sailing toward Israel