US and UK Strike 18 Targets in Yemen Following Houthi Attacks on American Ships in Gulf of Aden, Red Sea

The Yemeni navy, which is under the control of the Houthi militant group, launched an aggressive assault on the American tanker, Torm Thor. This tanker was stationed in the strategic Gulf of Aden. The assault involved the use of missiles and drones. Furthermore, the naval attack was not restricted to the American tanker alone. Several US warships located in the Red Sea were also targeted. The Al-Masirah newspaper reported the incident. This news outlet is affiliated with the Yemeni Shiite movement, which is in alliance with Hamas and receives support from Iran. The report quoted Yahya Saree, the spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces. Saree stated that these attacks were a rebuttal to the suffering of the Palestinian people and the US-British aggression against Yemen.

On February 18, a Houthi attack severely impacted a British ship, flying the Belize flag, in the Red Sea. The Associated Press, referencing a communication from the Pentagon, reported that the incident resulted in a massive oil spill. The cargo ship, named Rubymar, was transporting a load of 41,000 tons of fertilizer. It was en route to Bulgaria from the United Arab Emirates. The ship was attacked while it was navigating through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a crucial maritime route that links the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Given the potential for an environmental disaster due to the oil spill, the Yemeni government has appealed to the international community for assistance in managing the crisis.