Image credits - Asharq Al-Awsat
In a recent development in the already volatile Middle East, Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed a missile strike on a Norwegian commercial tanker, the STRINDA on Tuesday, 12th December. The attack, attributed to the Houthi’s opposition to Israel’s actions in Gaza, highlights the precarious nature of the regional conflict.
Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sarea stated that the STRINDA was targeted because it allegedly carried crude oil destined for an Israeli terminal, and its crew purportedly ignored warnings. However, the tanker’s owner, Norway’s Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, contradicted this claim, asserting that the vessel was transporting biofuel feedstock to Italy. The company confirmed a possible port visit to Israel in January but chose to withhold this information until the crew and vessel reached safe waters, following the advice of security advisors.
In response to the attack, Israel deployed one of its advanced warships, a Sa’ar 6-class corvette, in the Red Sea. The U.S. Navy destroyer Mason, responding to distress calls from the STRINDA, assisted the crew in dealing with a fire caused by a land-based cruise missile fired from Houthi-controlled Yemen on Monday night.
Pentagon spokesperson Major General Patrick Ryder emphasized the destabilizing and dangerous nature of the Houthi forces’ actions, labelling it an international problem requiring an international solution. U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin is scheduled to travel to the Middle East next week, including stops in Israel, Qatar, and Bahrain.
The Houthi rebels, entwined in the Israel-Hamas conflict, have expanded their attacks beyond Yemen, targeting vessels in crucial shipping lanes and launching drones and missiles at Israel from their base in Sanaa, Yemen’s capital. In a recent statement, the Houthis declared their intent to target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of nationality, cautioning international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.
Amid the escalating conflict, the French frigate FREMM Languedoc intercepted and destroyed a threatening drone in an aerial attack originating from Yemen, according to the French defence ministry.
The STRINDA, loaded with vegetable oil and biofuels, was en route to Venice from Malaysia, as confirmed by Italian energy firm Eni. The Houthi spokesperson asserted that they would continue blocking ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel permits the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip.