British tanker set on fire ‘by Houthi missile strike’

The UK Government says Britain and its allies “reserve the right to respond appropriately” after an oil tanker was struck in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire on board.

The Yemeni armed forces claimed it had targeted a “British oil” vessel on Friday, but shipping data shows the Marlin Luanda sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands.

Singapore-based multinational firm Trafigura said the safety of crew on the vessel, which is operated on its behalf, is its “foremost priority” and naval ships were en route to assist on Friday.

A Government spokesperson said on Friday night: “We are aware of reports that the motor vessel Marlin Luanda, a Marshall Islands-flagged tanker, has sustained damage from attack in the Gulf of Aden. Current reports suggest no casualties and nearby coalition vessels are on the scene.

“We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately.”

US targets Houthis in latest strike

The US military said on Saturday it destroyed a Houthi anti-ship missile in Yemen that was aimed into the Red Sea and ready to launch.

The missile “presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and the US Navy ships in the region,” US Central Command said in a post on Twitter.

The strike took place at 3.45am local time (12.45am GMT) on Saturday.

Houthi rebels claimed on Friday to have struck the Marlin Luanda with a missile, setting it on fire.

Naval forces of the Yemeni-based group attacked the oil tanker, according to Yahya Saree, the Iran-backed group’s military spokesman.

“The strike was direct, and resulted (in) the burning of the vessel,” he added.

US officials told CBS News the tanker was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile and a naval ship was responding to its distress signal.

UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported an incident 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden on Friday.

It comes after an earlier incident in which two missiles were reported to have exploded in the water.

UKMTO said authorities had been informed and were responding to the latest strike, warning other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.

A Trafigura spokesperson said in a statement: “Earlier on January 26, the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker vessel operated on behalf of Trafigura, was struck by a missile as it transited the Red Sea.

‘‘Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side.

‘‘The safety of the crew is our foremost priority. We remain in contact with the vessel and are monitoring the situation carefully.  Military ships in the region are under way to provide assistance.’’

The Houthis have repeatedly launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea since November in protest against Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

‘Illegal and unacceptable’

They have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel, endangering shipping on a key route for global trade.

Alongside numerous air strikes on key Houthi targets, the UK and US are also targeting key figures in the Iran-backed militant group with sanctions.

A second series of UK and US air strikes carried out at the start of the week, appears to have done little to deter Houthi action.

Earlier on Friday, a spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said: “We continue to call on (the Houthis) to step back from such action. We’re clear that this is illegal and unacceptable.”

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, is currently finishing a trip to the Middle East, in a diplomatic bid to reduce tensions as the Israeli offensive in Gaza continues.