Yemen Explodes Tanker In Middle East

(Scypre.com) – Yemen’s Houthi group made headlines recently by claiming responsibility for hitting a Norwegian ship named Strinda. According to them, it was in protest of Israel’s actions in Gaza. In a televised statement, the Houthi military spokesperson, Yehia Sareea, stated that the crew of the ship ignored warnings, leading to the rocket strike.

Sareea declared that such attacks on ships heading to Israeli ports would continue until Israel allows the entry of much-needed food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip. It’s worth noting that this demand is made from a considerable distance – more than 1,000 miles away from the Houthi power center in Sanaa.

The Strinda, a Norwegian-owned-and-operated vessel, was struck while navigating near the Bab al-Mandab strait, a crucial sea lane responsible for transporting a significant portion of the world’s oil.

The assault on the Strinda occurred approximately 60 nautical miles north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, which acts as a maritime border between East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. The U.S. military’s Central Command reported that an anti-ship cruise missile, launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen, struck the Strinda.

Thankfully, no U.S. ships were in the vicinity at the time, but the USS Mason, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer, responded promptly and is currently providing assistance. The attack resulted in a fire and damage to the ship, but no casualties were reported, according to the U.S. military.

Geir Belsnes, the CEO of J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, the company operating the Strinda, clarified that the ship was en route from Malaysia to the Suez Canal, with Italy as its final destination, carrying a cargo of palm oil. However, Sareea contested this, alleging that the ship was destined for Israel.

This incident comes on the heels of reports suggesting that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu informed President Biden about his country’s readiness for military action against the Houthi movement if the U.S. does not intervene.

The Houthi group has been actively confronting Israeli and U.S. forces in the Middle East, especially since the beginning of Israel’s conflict with Hamas. Just days before the Strinda incident, they declared their intention to target all ships heading to Israel, irrespective of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.

The Houthis have previously attacked and seized several ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab strait. Additionally, they have launched ballistic missiles and armed drones at Israel.

Earlier this month, three commercial vessels were attacked in the Red Sea, prompting the U.S. warship USS Carney to intercept and shoot down multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that were headed towards them. The situation remains tense, with maritime security in the region under heightened scrutiny.