Fuel tanker on fire after Houthi missile attack in Gulf of Aden

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Houthi rebels in Yemen on Friday fired a missile that set fire to a ship carrying Russian refined oil for the commodities trader Trafigura, as the Iran-backed militants stepped up their attacks on commercial and military vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

The Houthi attack on the Marlin Luanda, a petroleum products tanker in the Gulf of Aden, was the first to hit a commercial vessel since the US and UK combined on a second set of strikes against the militants, who have caused major disruption to global trade by targeting a critical route.

The Houthis earlier on Friday fired an anti-ship ballistic missile at the USS Carney, a US navy vessel in the Gulf of Aden. US Central Command said the Carney had successfully shot the missile down.

US forces early on Saturday launched a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed into the Red Sea and prepared to launch, according to US Central Command.

A statement by Yahya Saree, the Houthis’ spokesman, said the group had targeted the Marlin Luanda, which it described as a “British oil ship”. While the vessel was operating on behalf of Trafigura, its registered owner is Oceonix Services, a company based in the City of London.

The attack appears to have been the most damaging so far of the 30-plus attempted by the Houthis against commercial ships since November. Most have caused only minor damage or small, quickly extinguished fires.

Trafigura, a leading commodities trader, said the Marlin Luanda had been “struck by a missile”.

“Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side,” the Singapore-based company said.

“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 company added that the vessel…