Red Sea: Houthis attack US oil tanker twice in the Gulf of Aden

The Iran-backed militant group attempted two attacks on a US-flagged and owned tanker vessel on Saturday, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.

PHOTO: A container ship passing through the Suez Canal in Egypt. Getty Images

The US Navy’s guided-missile destroyer USS Mason intercepted a ballistic anti-ship missile launched at M/V Torm Thor from the Houthi-controlled areas off Yemen’s coast, while the other missile sank into the water , the US CENTCOM said.

“Neither USS Mason nor MV Torm Thor were damaged and there were no injuries [crew],” US CENTCOM said.

The Yemeni militia’s spokesperson Yahya Sare’e took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to claim responsibility for the attacks on the tanker in the Gulf of Aden.

On Saturday, the US naval forces, along with the UK, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, carried out several drone strikes targetting 18 bases in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

The Houthis, exerting significant control in Yemen, have consistently attacked several commercial ships transiting through the waters of the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the Gulf of Aden since mid-November last year. These attacks are in retaliation for Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Since then, over 41 vessels have faced missile strikes, near misses, or threats from the Houthis, according to marine risk management firm Ambrey. This includes ships owned by major shipping companies, including A.P. Moller-Maersk, Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC), and CMA CGM.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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