{"id":34536,"date":"2023-12-12T11:06:07","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T11:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/yemens-houthis-claim-attack-on-norwegian-tanker-the-express-tribune\/"},"modified":"2023-12-12T11:06:07","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T11:06:07","slug":"yemens-houthis-claim-attack-on-norwegian-tanker-the-express-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/yemens-houthis-claim-attack-on-norwegian-tanker-the-express-tribune\/","title":{"rendered":"Yemen’s Houthis claim attack on Norwegian tanker | The Express Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nDUBAI:
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\u00a0Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said on Tuesday they carried out a military operation against the Norwegian commercial tanker STRINDA in its latest operation to protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.<\/p>\n

The group targeted the tanker with a rocket after the crew refused to respond to all warnings, Houthi military spokesperson Yehia Sareea said in a televised statement.<\/p>\n

He vowed that the Houthis would continue blocking ships heading to Israeli ports until Israel allows the entry of food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip – more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.<\/p>\n

The attack on the tanker STRINDA 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 2100 GMT, a U.S. official told Reuters. A second U.S. official said the STRINDA was able to move under its own power in the hours after the attack.<\/p>\n

“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,” the U.S. military’s Central Command, which oversees American forces in the Middle East, said in a statement posted on social media platform X.<\/p>\n

The attack caused a fire and damage but no casualties, the U.S. military said in a statement.<\/p>\n

The Houthi spokesman said that the group had managed to obstruct the passage of several ships in recent days, acting in support of the Palestinians.<\/p>\n

The chemical tanker is now headed for a safe port, the ship’s Norwegian owner, Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, told Reuters. The STRINDA tanker’s crew of 22 from India are all unhurt, Mowinckel Chair Geir Belsnes said.<\/p>\n

Read\u00a0<\/strong>Yemen’s Houthis warn they will target all ships headed to Israel<\/a><\/p>\n

The Houthis have waded into the Israel-Hamas conflict – which has spread around the Middle East since Oct. 7 – attacking vessels in vital shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel itself.<\/p>\n

On Saturday, the Houthis said they would target all ships heading to Israel, regardless of their nationality, and warned international shipping companies against dealing with Israeli ports.<\/p>\n

The chemical tanker is Norway flagged, and its Norwegian owner, Mowinckel Chemical Tankers, and manager Hansa Tankers could not be immediately reached for comment outside office hours.<\/p>\n

The STRINDA had loaded vegetable oil and biofuels in Malaysia and was headed for Venice, Italy, data from shiptracking firm Kpler showed.<\/p>\n

It was not immediately clear whether the STRINDA had any ties to Israel.<\/p>\n

The group, which rules much of Yemen, says its attacks are a show of support for the Palestinians and has vowed they will continue until Israel stops its offensive on the Gaza Strip – more than 1,000 miles from the Houthi seat of power in Sanaa.<\/p>\n

The Houthis are one of several groups in the Iran-aligned “Axis of Resistance” that have been taking aim at Israeli and U.S. targets since their Palestinian ally Hamas attacked Israel.<\/p>\n

During the first week of December, three commercial vessels came under attack in international waters, prompting a U.S. Navy destroyer to intervene.<\/p>\n

The Houthis also seized last month a British-owned cargo ship that had links with an Israeli company.<\/p>\n

The United States and Britain have condemned the attacks on shipping, blaming Iran for its role in supporting the Houthis. Tehran says its allies make their decisions independently.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia has asked the United States to show restraint\u00a0in responding to the attacks.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n