LONDON/ADEN- Yemen’s Houthis fired a missile that likely targeted the Torm Thor in the Gulf of Aden on Feb. 24 but missed the US flagged oil tanker, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Monday, as the Iran-aligned militia steps up attacks on ships.
Shipping risks have escalated due to repeated Houthi drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab Strait since November in support of Palestinians in Gaza. US and British forces have responded with several strikes on Houthi facilities but have so far failed to halt the attacks.
The Iran-aligned Houthis last week sent shipping officials and insurers formal notice of what they termed a ban on vessels linked to Israel, the US and Britain from sailing in surrounding seas, seeking to reinforce their military campaign, in advisories seen by Reuters.
In the latest attack, the missile impacted the water causing no damage nor injuries, CENTCOM added in a post on X.
The Iran-aligned group said on Sunday that they had launched an attack on the tanker.
The Torm Thor is being used as part of the US government’s Tanker Security Program, which has aimed to bolster oil shipping options for its armed forces in times of crisis, the US Maritime Administration has said.
Two maritime security sources said the vessel had a US military escort.
The vessel’s owner is Denmark’s Torm although it does not operate the ship, shipping databases showed.
Torm told Reuters it had halted sailings in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since mid January for its fleet of 85 vessels that it has full control of.
“Our decision to pause all transits through the southern part of the Red Sea for TORM operated vessels remains unchanged, prioritizing the safety and well-being of our crew above all,” the group said.
The US military also shot down in “self-defense” two one-way unmanned aerial attack vehicles over the southern Red Sea on Sunday, CENTCOM said.
The Houthis, who control the most populous parts of Yemen, have launched exploding drones and missiles at commercial vessels since Nov. 19 as a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Ireland’s trade minister on Monday described the spate of attacks on shipping in the Red Sea as very concerning and said it was unacceptable for the Houthis to try to disrupt trade. – Reuters
