SANAA: Yemen’s Houthi group has claimed responsibility for the latest attack on an oil tanker in the Red Sea, escalating tensions in the region and prompting reactions from the United Kingdom and the United States.
In a statement on Saturday, Houthis spokesman Yahya Saree announced that the group’s naval forces had conducted an operation targeting the British oil tanker Pollux. While the group did not elaborate on how they identified the vessel as “British,” Greek shipping records indicate that the tanker is operated by Sea Trade Marine S.A. of Athens.
The State Department in Washington confirmed the attack, stating that a missile fired from Yemen struck the port side of the Panamanian-flagged MT Pollux, which was en route to India carrying crude oil. Despite sustaining minor damage, the vessel managed to continue its journey.
US Redesignates Houthis as Terrorist Organization
This incident occurred on the same day that the US officially classified the Houthis as a “terrorist” organization, a move that has heightened tensions in the region.
In response to the attack, the US military conducted strikes against three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, preempting potential threats to ships in the Red Sea. However, previous strikes by the US and Britain have failed to deter the group’s attacks, which are primarily aimed at vessels perceived to be linked to Israel during its conflict with the Palestinian resistance group Hamas in Gaza.
The Houthis have vowed retaliation following the US and British actions, asserting solidarity with the Palestinian cause.
