Missile ‘fired at tanker carrying Russian oil after being mistakenly linked to the UK’ amid soaring tensions after coalition strikes in Yemen overnight

A missile has been fired at a Panamanian-flagged ship south of Yemen just hours after British and US forces launched a barrage of attacks on Houthi rebel targets early this morning, UK Marine Trade Operations reported.

According to Ambrey, the tanker was wrongly targeted based on outdated information linking the ship to Britain. The maritime risk analyst later reported that the tanker was in fact carrying Russian oil.

“This was the second tanker wrongly targeted by the Houthis while carrying Russian oil,” the statement said.

The missile, fired from the Yemeni port city of Aden, reportedly landed in the water between 400 and 500 meters from the ship. No injuries were reported in the strike, the United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said.

It comes as the rebels declared British and American interests ‘legitimate targets’ threatened retaliation, stating: ‘The Americans and the British must not believe that they will escape punishment from our heroic forces.

“The joy of the aggressors will not last long, and our hand will prevail, God willing.

“All US-British interests have become legitimate targets for the Yemeni forces in response to their direct and declared aggression against the Republic of Yemen.”

The heavy allied attacks, which rebels say killed five people, followed weeks of disruptive attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the rebel group, which says it stands in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Allied attacks overnight, which rebels say killed five people, followed weeks of disruptive attacks on shipping in the Red Sea by the rebel group, which says it stands in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Britain, the United States and eight allies said their attacks were aimed at “de-escalating tensions”, with a Downing Street spokesman saying:These were limited and targeted attacks in response to aggression.

“We acted in self-defense in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter.”

Prime Minister Sunak followed up later today, adding: ‘It is clear that this type of behavior cannot continue… which is why I have taken the decision, together with allies, to take what I believe is necessary, proportionate and targeted action against military targets. to degrade and disrupt the Houthis’ ability.

NATO today came to the defense of its members, saying the US-led strikes were aimed at protecting shipping through the Red Sea and urging Iran to “rein in its allies.”

“These attacks were defensive and intended to preserve freedom of navigation on one of the world’s most vital waterways. The Houthi attacks must end,” said Dylan White, a spokesman for the Western military alliance.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels on Friday vowed fierce retaliation for US and British attacks against them, further raising the prospect of a wider conflict in a region already ravaged by Israel’s war in Gaza.

But Iran and other governments have since strongly condemned the Western move or warned that the unrest could worsen.

Hamas also said it will hold Britain and the United States “responsible for the consequences for regional security,” while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the US and Britain of turning the Red Sea into a “sea of ​​blood” to want to change.

Humanitarian organizations have also warned that a possible escalation could have serious consequences for the local population, who have been embroiled in a bitter civil war since 2014.

Jared Rowell, Yemen country director at the International Rescue Committeesaid: “The military escalation in Yemen and the Red Sea threatens the people of Yemen and the stability of the broader region.

“Yemenis across the country have woken up to fear of a return to conflict. Nine years of war have taken a huge toll, leaving more than 18 million people – more than half of the population – in urgent need of help.

“The ongoing attacks in the Red Sea are already impacting the delivery of commercial and humanitarian aid to the country, resulting in delays in the shipment of life-saving supplies and rising costs of food and fuel.”

Mr Rowell said the coalition attacks “underlined the risk” of wider regional and global conflict and urged that “all diplomatic channels” be used to de-escalate, protect civilians and ensure free passage for merchant ships through the shipping lane .

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also called on all parties “not to escalate” the volatile situation in the Red Sea, his spokesman said on Friday.

“The Secretary-General further calls on all parties involved not to escalate the situation further, in the interests of peace and stability in the Red Sea and the wider region,” Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Dr. Tobias Borck, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi) think tank, told the PA that the threat of a wider regional war that has existed since Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack on Israel has not changed in the light of the attacks.

“However, escalation can happen as a result of accidents and miscalculations, or as a simple combination of risks, a normalization of extremely high levels of violence,” he said.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron said the strikes sent a message not only to the Houthis but also to Iran.

‘I think it was proportionate, it was legal and it was absolutely right to do that. And I think it sends a very clear message to the Houthis, but also to Iran,” he told NBC in an interview.

The British government will receive an assessment of the impact of the action later on Friday, Lord Cameron said.