Houthi Rebels Attack Commercial Tanker in Red Sea, Prompting Urgent Rescue Efforts, Yemen

A British oil tanker has been reported on fire in the Red Sea following an attack by Houthi rebels, according to U.K. Maritime Organizations. The incident occurred about 60 nautical miles south of the Port of Aden in Yemen. Trafigura, the owner of the vessel named Marlin Luanda, stated that the crew is using firefighting equipment to contain the fire in one of the cargo tanks. The company reassured that it is in constant communication with the vessel and that the safety of the crew is its top priority. The Houthi rebels, who have claimed responsibility for the attack, stated that they targeted the vessel with naval missiles as part of their ongoing military operations. This is the second reported Houthi attack on a commercial tanker on the same day. The Iranian-backed rebels have previously threatened to target ships affiliated with the United States and Britain. American and British military forces have responded to these attacks with retaliatory strikes in Yemen. A number of shipping companies have rerouted their vessels to avoid becoming targets.