Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for a missile attack that set a British oil tanker on fire in the Gulf of Aden Friday night local time.
“In vindication of the oppressed Palestinian people, and in response to the American-British aggression against our country, Yemen naval forces targeted the British oil ship (Marlin Luanda) in the Gulf of Aden,” a spokesperson for the group said in a televised statement. “The strike was direct, and resulted in the burning of the vessel, by virtue of Allah.”
Shipping data suggests the Marlin Luanda was heading towards Singapore under the flag of the Marshall Islands. It was hit by a missile 60 nautical miles southeast of Aden in Yemen, according to UK Maritime Trade Operations.
Reports suggest the tanker is carrying Russian naphtha. This fully contradicts Houthi claims that they target vessels bound for Israel of linked to Israeli interests.
This is the most serious Houthi attack since they began their war on ‘Israel-related’ vessels last October, in support of Palestinians in Gaza. That campaign now seems to have broadened to include British or American related vessels –both commercial and military.
Earlier Friday, the Houthis had fired an anti-ship missile toward USS Carney. That missile was successfully shot down, according to the US Central Command.
The Houthis seem adamant to carry on with their attacks in the face of US (and UK) airstrikes that started earlier this month.
Their leader Mohammad Ali al-Houthi posted an open letter to President Joe Biden Friday, claiming that the group’s target was only “Israeli navigation” not international navigation. “Why not tell your people that 4874 ships have crossed the Bab el-Mandeb and Suez Canal back and forth during the Yemeni naval operations,” he asked in a rare English post on X.
This recent attack comes amid reports that China has called on Iran to rein in the Houthis.
"Basically, China says: 'If our interests are harmed in any way, it will impact our business with Tehran. So tell the Houthis to show restraint'," Reuters quoted an Iranian official speaking on condition of anonymity.
China no doubt enjoys some leverage over Iran. It’s unclear, however, if Iranian regime is willing to give up its most important leverage against the US, while it is unable to render any direct assistance to its ally, Hamas, as Israel continues to hammer at the group.
The attack on a British oil tanker suggests that the Houthis don’t mind further escalation of the conflict. This is at odds with the wishes of the United States and its allies. Iran and its Yemeni proxies are playing a game of brinkmanship up to the point of direct confrontation with the US.
The Iranian regime and its regional proxies have been engaged in attacks on the US and its allies almost daily since the start of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. And the Biden administration has so far not found a way to force a change of course.
Some Biden critics say the airstrikes against Houthis in Yemen is “too little too late”, and that nothing short of a “direct hit” against Iran would bring about his desired outcome.