Houthis say fuel tanker in the Red Sea targeted with missiles

Yemen's Houthis have targeted a fuel tanker, MADO, in the Red Sea, military spokesman Yahya Sarea claims on Tuesday.

 Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023. (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
Newly recruited fighters who joined a Houthi military force intended to be sent to fight in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, march during a parade in Sanaa, Yemen December 2, 2023.
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

Yemen's Houthis have targeted a fuel tanker, MADO, in the Red Sea with naval missiles and Israel's Eilat port and resort region with winged missiles, the group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said on Tuesday.

MADO is a Marshall-Islands flagged liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker heading to Singapore from Saudi Arabia, maritime shipping trackers showed. The Houthis described it as American, but Equasis's shipping database indicates that it is owned by Naftomar Shipping & Trading Co Ltd of Greece. Naftomar did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants have repeatedly launched drones and missiles at international commercial shipping in the Red Sea region since mid-November, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel's military assault in Gaza.

 A satellite image shows the Belize-flagged and UK-owned cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by Yemen's Houthis, according to the US military's Central Command, before it sank, on the Red Sea, March 1, 2024. (credit: VIA REUTERS)
A satellite image shows the Belize-flagged and UK-owned cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by Yemen's Houthis, according to the US military's Central Command, before it sank, on the Red Sea, March 1, 2024. (credit: VIA REUTERS)

Houthi attacks have disrupted global shipping recently 

The attacks have disrupted global shipping, forcing firms to take longer and more expensive journeys around southern Africa.

The United States and Britain, along with other navies, have carried out strikes against Houthi targets in response.