DUBAI, March 24, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A Chinese-owned oil tanker was attacked
off Yemen Saturday by ballistic missiles fired by Huthi rebels, who have
intensified strikes on Red Sea shipping, the US military said.

The Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned and operated Huang Pu issued a distress
call but did not request assistance, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a
statement on social media platform X early on Sunday.

"No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course," the
statement said.

The Iran-backed rebels, who control much of Yemen's Red Sea coast, have
launched dozens of missile and drone strikes on shipping over the past four
months, actions they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

CENTCOM and the British navy's United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO)
said a fire had broken out on board the ship but was extinguished within 30
minutes.

The Marinetraffic tracking website later had the vessel sailing out of the
Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden heading for its next port of call which,
according to maritime security agency Ambrey, was New Mangalore in India.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which UKMTO
said struck 23 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mokha.

CENTCOM said Huthi rebels had launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles in
the Red Sea near the Huang Pu before a fifth hit the vessel.

"The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not
attack Chinese vessels," it said.

According to Ambrey, "the tanker's registration details, including name and
operator, had been changed as recently as February 2024".

It had been registered in 2019 by British firm Union Maritime Ltd, Ambrey
said, and another vessel affiliated with the same company had previously been
targeted by the Huthis.

The Huthis have vowed to target Israeli, British and US ships, as well as
vessels heading to Israeli ports, disrupting traffic along the vital trade
route.

The United States, which leads an international coalition meant to protect
Red Sea shipping, has been hitting Huthi targets in Yemen since mid-January.

CENTCOM said that, following the attack on the Huang Pu, US forces engaged
six drones launched by the Huthis, five of which crashed into the Red Sea.

The sixth flew into a Huthi-controlled area of Yemen, it said.