US: "Yemen Rebels Attack Destroyer in Aden Bay... Shot Down by Missile"

An oil tanker passing through the Gulf of Aden, which connects to the Red Sea, was hit by an anti-ship missile fired by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

원본보기 아이콘

The United States Central Command (CENTCOM), responsible for the Middle East, Egypt, and West Asia, stated on the 27th (local time) via social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "At around 7:45 PM the previous day, Houthi terrorists fired an anti-ship missile and struck the Marshall Islands-flagged oil tanker Marlin Luanda." CENTCOM added, "The vessel sent a distress call and damage report. The US destroyer USS Carney and allied ships responded and provided support. No injuries have been reported so far."

Earlier, British broadcaster BBC reported that the Marshall Islands-flagged British oil tanker Marlin Luanda was attacked by Houthi rebels about 111 km southeast of the Yemeni port city of Aden. A spokesperson for Trafigura, the cargo owner and operator, said, "There was a fire in a tank on the starboard side," and that firefighting equipment was being used to extinguish it. They further explained, "This vessel is carrying Russian naphtha purchased below the price cap under the Group of Seven (G7) sanctions against Russia." Trafigura is a multinational commodity trading intermediary with bases worldwide.

Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Houthi rebels, said, "We used multiple appropriate naval missiles (in this attack)" and described it as a "direct (ship) attack." The Houthi rebels, known to be supported by Iran, have repeatedly attacked commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea and nearby areas since November last year to show solidarity with Hamas, the Palestinian armed faction at war with Israel.

However, given that they have shown restraint in provoking nearby Middle Eastern oil-producing countries or attacking large oil tankers, the strike on the Marlin Luanda on this occasion may represent an escalation of their threat level.

The Houthi rebels also target US Navy warships. CENTCOM announced on the same day, "The Houthis fired one anti-ship ballistic missile from their controlled territory toward the USS Carney destroyer in the Gulf of Aden," adding, "The Carney successfully intercepted the missile, and there were no injuries or damage."

The United States has launched a multinational fleet coalition to secure the safety of the Red Sea, a major global trade route, and has been conducting airstrikes on Houthi military facilities in Yemen alongside the United Kingdom since the 12th.

CENTCOM also reported that at around 3:45 AM on the 27th, it destroyed another Houthi anti-ship missile aimed at commercial vessels and US warships passing through the Red Sea.

As many vessels choose longer and more costly detours instead of the Red Sea route due to threats from the Houthi rebels, global logistics have contracted, prompting even China, traditionally close to Iran, to call for restraint.

© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.