In a recent incident in the Red Sea, Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, acknowledged responsibility for targeting a Norwegian tanker, the Strinda, using an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile. The attack occurred as the vessel passed through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Fortunately, there were no reported casualties, and the crew is safe. The ship, operated by J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, is now heading to a secure port.
Yahya Saree, a Houthi spokesperson, claimed the Yemeni Armed Forces executed the operation against the Strinda, loaded with vegetable oils and biofuel. He asserted that such attacks on ships heading to Israeli ports would persist until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into Gaza.
The United States Central Command (U.S. CENTCOM) reported that the strike took place around midnight local time, with no U.S. ships nearby. However, the U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mason provided assistance. The French military later revealed they had intercepted a drone targeting the Strinda.
The Strinda, an oil and chemical tanker en route to Italy from Malaysia through the Suez Canal, is part of Mowinckels Rederi’s fleet. The connection to Israel remains unclear. The Houthis intensified attacks on vessels in response to Israeli actions in Gaza, part of the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance.”
In the face of escalating tensions, Saudi Arabia urged the U.S. to exercise restraint in responding to Houthi attacks to contain the fallout from the Hamas-Israel conflict. Riyadh is satisfied with President Joe Biden’s handling of the situation, seeking to avoid further escalation. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia endeavors to advance the Yemen peace process despite the ongoing Gaza conflict, fearing potential derailment. Houthi attacks aim to pressure Washington to compel Israel to cease its Gaza offensive, a shared goal with Iran and other regional nations.
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…intercepting drones and missiles hoping none strike ships, ….Is the plan?
As opposed to taking out the launch sites?