Houthi Rebels Claim Missile Strike on British Tanker in Red Sea

The Houthi group in Yemen has publicly taken responsibility for launching a missile attack on the British oil tanker Pollux in the Red Sea on Friday. According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea, the strike was precise, targeting the vessel with multiple naval missiles as a part of their ongoing campaign against commercial ships linked to Israel and those bound for the region. Sarea’s statement on al-Masirah TV emphasized the group’s commitment to continue these attacks in response to Israeli actions in Gaza, pledging further escalation if necessary.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported the incident, indicating it occurred near al-Mukha, with the vessel’s captain noting an explosion nearby. Despite the attack, the UKMTO confirmed that the crew and vessel remained unharmed, with US-British maritime forces responding to the situation. This attack coincides with the United States’ recent classification of the Houthi faction as a “global terrorist organization,” a move that, according to the White House, aims to curb the group’s activities without hindering humanitarian efforts in northern Yemen. The US-British coalition has been actively working to protect international shipping in the area from Houthi missile threats since last year.