India-Bound Oil Tanker Damaged By Yemen's Houthi Rebels In Red Sea Attack: All About It

In a recent escalation of hostilities, ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels caused "minor damage" to a Panama-flagged oil tanker traversing the Red Sea, reported Economic Times.

The attack, which occurred on Friday (26 April), marks an uptick in assaults by the Houthis following a period of relative calm in their campaign, which has been ongoing for months amid Israel's conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

According to the U.S. military's Central Command, the rebels fired three missiles in the attack, one of which inflicted damage on the Panama-flagged Andromeda Star, which is registered in Seychelles.

The tanker, reportedly engaged in Russia-linked trade, was en route from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack in a prerecorded statement aired by the rebels, asserting that the tanker was "directly hit."

The assault took place off the coast of Mocha, Yemen, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.

This incident adds to a series of more than 50 attacks on shipping by the Houthis since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

While Houthi attacks had decreased in recent weeks amid U.S.-led airstrikes in Yemen, there have been at least two other attacks claimed by the rebels since Wednesday (24 April).

Moreover, most of the ships targeted by the Houthis have had little or no direct connection to Israel or other involved nations.

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