The military spokesperson for the Houthis, Brigadier General Yahya Sari, confirmed today, Friday, that the Ansar Allah group targeted a British ship, hitting it directly and causing it to catch fire. The statement read: "In solidarity with the Palestinian people's suffering and in response to the American-British aggression against our country, the naval forces of the Yemeni armed forces, with God's help, executed an operation targeting the British oil tanker (MARLIN LUANDA) in the Gulf of Aden with several appropriate naval missiles, resulting in a direct hit that led to its burning, thanks to God."
The statement added: "The Yemeni armed forces affirm their continuous operations in the Red and Arabian Seas against Israeli ships or those heading to the ports of occupied Palestine, until the aggression stops and food and medicine are delivered to the besieged Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip. The Yemeni armed forces confirm they are taking all military measures within the right to defend dear Yemen and to continue practical solidarity with the Palestinian people."
For its part, Trafigura reported that the oil tanker MARLIN LUANDA, operating on its behalf, was hit by a missile while transiting the Red Sea. The British Maritime Trade Operations agency and the British maritime security company Ambrey said they received reports of a ship being struck in the Red Sea near Yemeni Aden, resulting in a fire on board. The agency received a report of an incident about 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden, where "a ship was hit and is currently on fire." The agency added, "The ship is requesting assistance, and the authorities are responding."
