Tanker catches fire after Houthis attack

A tanker with links to the UK is on fire in the Gulf of Aden after being hit by a missile fired by the Houthis.

The Yemeni movement said it targeted the Marlin Luanda on Friday in response to “American-British aggression”.

The US and UK have launched air strikes on Houthi targets in response to attacks on ships in the Red Sea region.

The US military said the Iran-backed group hit the tanker with an anti-ship ballistic missile and naval ships had responded to its distress signal.

The operator of the vessel is registered as being Oceonix Services Ltd, a UK registered company.

The tanker flies under the flag of the Marshall Islands and is operated on behalf of Trafigura - a multinational trading company domiciled in Singapore.

Trafigura said the strike caused a fire in one of the ship's cargo tanks and firefighting equipment was being used to contain it. No injuries were reported.

It is the latest attack on commercial shipping by the Houthis in and around the Red Sea. The group says it is targeting vessels in the region in support of Palestinians in Gaza, where Israel is fighting Hamas.

In a statement, a Houthi spokesperson claimed the Marlin Luanda was a British ship and was targeted in response to “American-British aggression against our country”.

(With inputs from BBC)