Missile Attack on Chinese Oil Tanker by Houthi Rebels Near Yemen

Defense News Red Sea :-  A Chinese-owned oil tanker faced an attack off the coast of Yemen. The attackers were Houthi rebels who fired ballistic missiles, said the US military.

The tanker, named Huang Pu, which is owned by a Chinese company and flies the Panamanian flag, sent out a distress call. However, it did not ask for help, according to the US Central Command (CENTCOM). The incident happened on a Saturday, and CENTCOM shared the information on a social media platform the next day.

Thankfully, there were no injuries reported, and the tanker continued its journey after the attack.

These rebels, who are backed by Iran and control parts of Yemen's Red Sea coast, have been targeting ships for the past four months. They claim these actions are to show support for Palestinians in Gaza.

After the attack, a fire broke out on the tanker, but it was put out within 30 minutes, reported both CENTCOM and the British navy's United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO).

Later on, tracking data showed the tanker moving out of the Red Sea towards the Gulf of Aden. Its destination was New Mangalore in India, as per the maritime security agency Ambrey.

The attack occurred about 23 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mokha. It involved the firing of four anti-ship ballistic missiles by the Houthi rebels. One of these missiles hit the Huang Pu, despite the rebels' previous statement that they wouldn't attack Chinese vessels.

Interestingly, the tanker had its registration details changed in February 2024, according to Ambrey. Initially registered in 2019 by a British firm called Union Maritime Ltd, another ship linked to the same company had been targeted by the Houthis in the past.

The rebels have threatened to target ships from Israel, Britain, and the US, as well as those heading to Israeli ports. This poses a risk to the important trade route passing through these waters.

To counter such threats, the United States has been leading an international coalition to safeguard shipping in the Red Sea. Since mid-January, US forces have been targeting Houthi positions in Yemen.

Following the attack on the Huang Pu, US forces also intercepted six drones launched by the rebels. Five of these drones crashed into the Red Sea, while the sixth entered an area controlled by the Houthis in Yemen.