Norwegian Tanker Attacked by Houthis in Yemen: MK Strinda

Yemen's Houthi rebels, who are supported by Iran, have fired at least one missile at a Norwegian tanker, resulting in a fire on board. Fortunately, there were no casualties in this attack. The Houthi spokesperson claimed that the MT Strinda was delivering oil to Israel, but the ship's owners stated that it was actually headed to Italy with feedstock for biofuel. The Houthi rebels have declared their intention to block ships from any country heading towards Israel until Israel ends its offensive in Gaza. They argue that this is a display of support for the Palestinians. The United States has expressed that it will consider appropriate responses to these attacks, which it believes are fully enabled by Iran. According to Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree, the ship was targeted after its crew refused to respond to warnings. The Houthi rebels have prevented several ships from passing through Yemeni waters in recent days. The MT Strinda was attacked in the Bab El Mandeb strait at the entrance to the Red Sea. Although the missile caused a fire on the ship, it was extinguished, and the ship managed to reach a safe port without further harm. The crew, consisting of thirty Indian citizens, remained unharmed. US officials confirmed that a US Navy destroyer provided assistance to the MT Strinda after receiving a distress call. The Bab El Mandeb Strait is a narrow channel separating Eritrea and Djibouti from Yemen. It serves as a crucial passage for approximately 17,000 ships carrying 10% of global trade annually. Any ship traveling between the Indian Ocean and the Suez Canal must pass through this strait. The Houthi rebels, who are engaged in a conflict against Yemen's Saudi-backed government, consider themselves part of an "axis of resistance" consisting of Iran-affiliated groups that oppose Israel, the United States, and the wider Western world. They have previously targeted various commercial ships this month, prompting the intervention of a US destroyer. Additionally, in November, the rebels seized the cargo ship Galaxy Leader.