Houthi Missile Attack Targets US-flagged Tanker in Gulf of Aden

Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated tensions in the Gulf of Aden by launching a missile strike on the MV Torm Thor, a US-flagged oil tanker, according to the group’s military spokesman, Yahya Sarea. The Iran-aligned Houthis, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza, aimed naval missiles at the vessel in a bold move against international shipping lanes.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that the USS Mason, a guided missile destroyer, intercepted and destroyed an anti-ship ballistic missile from Houthi-controlled territory in Yemen, likely intended for the tanker. Fortunately, the defensive action prevented any damage to the USS Mason or MV Torm Thor, and no injuries were reported.

This incident marks a continuation of the Houthis’ aggressive tactics, with attacks on commercial shipping intensifying since November 19 as a form of protest against Israeli military operations in Gaza. In response to these provocations, the US and Britain have conducted strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen and have reclassified the militia as a terrorist organization.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza has had broader regional implications, with the Houthi attacks on shipping lanes being part of a wider pattern of unrest. Other Iran-supported groups, such as Hizbullah in Lebanon and pro-Iran Iraqi militias, have also engaged in hostilities, targeting Israeli forces and US bases in the region.