On Tuesday, Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for a military operation against the Norwegian commercial tanker STRINDA. This action was part of their ongoing protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
The moment the Zionist ship "Number Nine" was targeted in the Red Sea by the Yemeni armed forces#RedSea #Yemen pic.twitter.com/qIHl272zeG
— ATUL AWASTHI (@atul6622) December 5, 2023
According to Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sareea, the group targeted the tanker STRINDA with a rocket after the crew failed to respond to warnings.
Close images of the damage to the Israeli ship M/V NUMBER 9 Attacked by the militias #Huties of #Yemen . Due to the damage suffered, the boat would sink in the next few hours.#RedSea #FreePalestineFromIsraelNOW #CeasefireForGazaNOW #StopGazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/YGmYvmLa4I
— inaya bisma (@inaya_bisma) December 4, 2023
Sareea pledged that the Houthis would persist in obstructing ships bound for Israeli ports until Israel permits the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip, despite the significant distance of over 1,000 miles from the Houthi stronghold in Sanaa.
The attack occurred approximately 60 nautical miles north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, at around 2100 GMT, as reported by a U.S. official. Following the assault, a second U.S. official confirmed that the STRINDA was able to navigate under its own power.
The U.S. military’s Central Command stated that although there were no U.S. ships in the vicinity during the attack, the USS MASON responded to the STRINDA’s distress call and is currently providing assistance. The incident resulted in a fire and damage but did not cause any casualties, according to the U.S. military.
The Houthi spokesperson asserted that the group had successfully impeded the passage of several ships recently, aligning their actions with support for the Palestinians.
The Norwegian-owned chemical tanker, flagged as Norway, belongs to Mowinckel Chemical Tankers. The STRINDA’s crew of 22 from India escaped unharmed. The tanker is now en route to a secure port, as confirmed by Mowinckel Chair Geir Belsnes.
The Houthis have entered the Israel-Hamas conflict, attacking vessels in crucial shipping routes and launching drones and missiles at Israel. On a previous occasion, the group declared their intent to target all ships heading to Israel, irrespective of their nationality, and cautioned international shipping companies against engaging with Israeli ports.
The STRINDA, loaded with vegetable oil and biofuels from Malaysia, was destined for Venice, Italy, according to data from ship-tracking firm Kpler.
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