Cruise missile from Yemen strikes tanker ship: What you need to know
The Iran-aligned Houthis have entered the Israel-Hamas war, which has been unfolding since October 7. Image: Reuters.
A commercial tanker vessel was hit by an anti-ship cruise missile launched from Houthi-controlled Yemen. The tanker ship was traveling through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, off the coast of Yemen.
There were no casualties reported. The tanker ship was traveling through the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait, separating East Africa from the Arabian Peninsula, off the coast of Yemen.
What happened
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A US official told Reuters that the attack on the tanker STRINDA (a Norwegian-owned-and-operated ship) took place about 60 nautical miles (111km) north of the Bab al-Mandab Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at about 9.00 PM GMT.
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Another US official said the STRINDA was able to move under its own power in the hours after the attack.
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The United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that the ship "was attacked by what is assessed to have been an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen while passing through the Bab-el-Mandeb".
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The US military's Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement posted on the social media platform X, "There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the (U.S. Navy destroyer) USS MASON responded to the M/T STRINDA's mayday call and is currently rendering assistance."
About the STRINDA: It is an oil and chemical tanker and is part of the fleet of Bergen-based shipping firm Mowinckels Rederi, and was on its way to Italy.
The Iran-aligned Houthis have entered the Israel-Hamas war, which has been unfolding across the Middle East since October 7. They've targeted vessels in crucial shipping lanes and launched drones and missiles at Israel.
Recently, the Houthis declared their intent to target all ships bound for Israel, irrespective of their nationality. Additionally, they issued warnings to international shipping companies against engaging with Israeli ports.