Washington (Washington Insider Magazine)— The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels had launched five missiles at a Chinese oil tanker in the Red Sea, despite earlier assurances that they would not target Chinese vessels.
The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on Sunday that Yemen’s Houthi rebels fired missiles at a Chinese oil tanker in the Red Sea, despite earlier assurances that such vessels would not be targeted. A statement shared on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, revealed that four anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched toward the M/V Huang Pu, a Panamanian-flagged oil tanker owned and operated by China. The Houthis, supported by Iran, were responsible for the attack. No casualties were reported, and the damage to the vessel was minimal, according to the US Army. The ship resumed its normal course after the fire on board was extinguished within half an hour.
The statement continued, “At approximately 4:25 p.m. (local time), a fifth ballistic missile was launched towards the M/V Huang Pu,” although the tanker did not request assistance despite issuing a distress call.
According to the US Army, there were no casualties reported, and the damage sustained by the vessel was described as minimal. The ship resumed its normal course after a fire on board was extinguished within 30 minutes.
CENTCOM also disclosed that between 0650 and 0950 hours (Sana’a time), US forces, including the USS Carney, engaged six Houthi unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) over the southern Red Sea. Five of the UAVs crashed into the sea, while one flew inland towards Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.
“These unmanned aerial vehicles were deemed to pose an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to safeguard freedom of navigation and enhance the safety of international waters for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” stated CENTCOM.
According to Elpais, The Houthis, who have held control over Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and other regions since 2015, have launched multiple attacks against Israeli territory and ships with Israeli affiliations. They have also threatened to target American and British vessels in response to airstrikes on Yemen.
The rebel group’s leader, Abdulmalik Badredín al Huti, recently declared intentions to expand their operations, including targeting the entire Indian Ocean up to the Cape of Hope. Subsequently, the group claimed responsibility for attacks on three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean, with no reported casualties.
