SAANA: Yemen’s Houthis claimed Friday a missile strike on a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden that set the vessel on fire, the latest attack on international shipping by the Iran-backed militia.
It came the same day the US military said one of its warships shot down a missile fired at it by the group, which is acting in support of Palestinians in Gaza amid the Israel-Hamas war.
US and British forces have launched two rounds of joint strikes aimed at reducing the Houthis’ ability to target vessels transiting the key Red Sea maritime trade route.
Washington has also carried out a series of unilateral air raids, but the Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks.
The British oil tanker was hit by missiles fired by Yemeni naval forces, said the group’s military spokesman Yahya Saree. “The strike was direct, and resulted (in) the burning of the vessel,” he added.
The Houthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in November, saying they were hitting Israeli-linked vessels to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
They have since declared US and British interests to be legitimate targets as well.
