Ship heading to China
Houthi rebels attack oil tankers again
May 18, 2024, 9:59 p.m
Listen to article
This audio version was artificially generated. More info | Send feedback
The Houthi militia has been repeatedly attacking ships in the Red Sea for months. Now another oil tanker is hit by a missile. The ship was on its way to China, but was able to continue its journey despite damage, the US military said.
The Houthi rebels in Yemen have hit a tanker loaded with Russian oil bound for China in the Red Sea with a missile. The rudder system and drive of the Panamanian-flagged “M/T Wind” failed after the hit, the US military said. There were no injuries. However, the crew was able to repair the damage. The tanker owned by a Greek shipping company was able to continue its journey as planned.
British maritime safety company Ambrey said the M/T Wind was hit about 10 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port city of Mocha. The ship was loading oil in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk and was on its way to China.
The Yemeni Houthi militia has repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since November. The Iranian-backed rebels say they want to support the Palestinians in the war between Israel and the Islamist Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
In response to the Houthi attacks on cargo ships on the important trade route in the Red Sea, the USA and Great Britain had attacked militia positions in Yemen in recent months. In addition, warships from two international coalitions are trying to secure shipping traffic along the Yemeni coast. The Bundeswehr was also temporarily on site with the frigate “Hessen” as part of the EU naval mission “Aspides”. The Shiite Houthis see themselves as part of the “Axis of Resistance” directed against Israel and supported by Iran, which includes Hamas and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.