A vessel affiliated with the United Kingdom endured hours of fire in the Gulf of Aden following a missile strike by Houthi forces, an Iran-backed group based in Yemen.
The attack, carried out on the Marlin Luanda, was declared by the Houthis as a response to perceived “American-British aggression.” In retaliation, the US and UK conducted airstrikes on Houthi targets in the Red Sea region.
French, Indian, and US naval ships provided assistance to the vessel. UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps condemned the attack as “intolerable and illegal,” emphasizing the commitment to protecting freedom of navigation in the Red Sea.
Operated by UK-registered Oceonix Services Ltd for Trafigura, the Marlin Luanda, flying the Marshall Islands flag, confirmed crew safety and extinguished cargo tank fire.
Houthis targeted Red Sea shipping, citing support for Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The UK government condemned these attacks as “completely unacceptable” and affirmed the right to respond with allies.
The UKMTO reported the incident 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden, urging caution for vessels. Subsequently, the US Central Command announced a strike at 03:45 local time, destroying a Houthi anti-ship missile preparing for launch.
Houthis initiated numerous Red Sea attacks since November, impacting a major global shipping route.
