Houthi Missile Strike Sets British Fuel Tanker Carrying Russian Chemical In Red Sea Ablaze

Iran-backed Houthi rebels escalated their missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea on Friday. In the latest, Houthi missile strike on a British tanker carrying Russian chemicals set it ablaze. The missile struck the fuel tanker Marlin Luanda as it transited the Red Sea. A Trafigura spokesperson told Reuters that the tanker, operated on behalf of it, was carrying Russian naphtha purchased below the price cap in line with G7 sanctions. This was the second Houthi attack on Jan 26, which forced vessel Free Spirit, chartered by Vitol to carry crude oil, to make a U-turn before reaching the Gulf of Aden. Earlier in the day, Houthis also targeted U.S. destroyer USS Carney in the Gulf of Aden. Watch for more details.