US forces destroyed
an anti-ship missile
from the Houthi rebels in Yemen that was ready to be fired on Saturday, after the Iran-backed movement attacked a British oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden, in a blow that caused a spectacular fire.
The US Central Command in the area (Centcom) indicated that early this Saturday it attacked "an anti-ship missile aimed at the Red Sea and that was ready for launch."
"The forces bombed and destroyed the missile in self-defense," Centcom added on the X social network.
For its part, the internationally recognized government of Yemen assured that "defensive operations (American and British) are not the solution."
"The solution is to eliminate the military capabilities of the Houthis," declared in Riyadh the head of Yemen's Presidential Council, Rashad al Alimi, who heads the Saudi-backed government.
On Friday, the Houthis, who control Yemen's capital Sana'a, claimed to have
fired "missiles" at a "British oil tanker,
the 'Marlin Luanda'."
The ship "caught fire," they added.
Houthi rebels train in a remote area of Sana'a, Yemen's capital.
Photo: EFE
The ship's operator, trading giant Trafigura Group, said in a statement that
no casualties were reported
and that the ship's fire had only been extinguished in the afternoon.
For his part, the rebels' military spokesman, Yahya Saree, indicated in a statement that the attack was carried out
in solidarity with the Palestinian people
and "in response to British and American aggression against our country."
Private maritime risk company Ambrey had previously reported that a merchant ship had been hit by a missile, something Centcom confirmed, noting that "the ship issued a distress call and reported damage."
New bombings
Houthi Al Masirah television also claimed on Saturday that the United States and the United Kingdom launched
two airstrikes
against the port of Ras Isa in Hodeida province, which is home to the country's main oil export terminal.
Since mid-November, the Houthis have attacked what they consider vessels linked to Israeli interests in the Red Sea, in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
Their campaign has disrupted shipping traffic and prompted the United States and Britain to carry out retaliatory attacks.
The Houthis have since declared that the interests of these two powers are also legitimate objectives.
The Iran-backed Houthis say they have launched more than 200 drones and 50 missiles
at Western commercial vessels and warships in the Red Sea
since Nov. 19 , aiming to economically harm Israel and support the Palestinians.
from the Gaza Strip.
The tension in the area has caused the main shipping companies worldwide to continue adjusting their routes to avoid transiting through this sea route, through which 8% of the world's grain trade, 12% of the oil trade and 8% of the world trade in liquefied natural gas.
Source: Agencies