HOUTHI rebels have “mistakenly” fired a missile at a tanker thinking it was a UK vessel.
The rocket is said to have landed in the Red Sea around 400-500 metres away from the Panama-flagged ship on Friday.
It was followed by three skiffs, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which tonight received “multiple reports” of other small boats tailing ships elsewhere in the region.
British maritime security firm Ambrey says the ship was “mistakenly targeted” based on “outdated” information linking it to the UK.
They added: “This appeared to be five months old but was still listed as UK-affiliated on a public maritime database.”
The tanker was carrying Russian crude oil to an unknown location, Ambrey said.
No injuries or damage are reported following the incident which happened around 90 nautical miles south east of Aden, Yemen.
The Panama flag means the ship is registered in that country, it is unclear who owns the vessel.
Separate reports have since emerged of mysterious small boat fleets tailing ships in the area.
UKMTO said two small vessels followed one ship for over an hour on Friday in what was described as a “suspicious approach”.
No weapons were seen onboard the boats during the incident 80 nautical miles south east of Aden.
It comes as the US and UK conducted overnight airstrikes against Houthi military targets in nearly 30 locations across the country.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gave the green light for military action at an Emergency Cabinet meeting on Thursday evening following weeks of Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Five militants were killed as more than 150 precision-guided munitions, launched by fighter jets and warships, blitzed 60 military targets including an airbase, airport and army camp.
US officials said they fired over 80 Tomahawk cruise missiles from three destroyers and a submarine while 22 jets took part in the strike from the aircraft carrier USS Eisenhower.
The i Newspaper understands Foreign Secretary Lord David Cameron used his experience of overseeing bombing raids while PM to advise Mr Sunak.
Since November 19, there have been more than 27 attacks on Red Sea ships in what the Houthis say is a protest against Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
It comes as…
- Houthi rebels vow to get ‘unimaginable’ revenge on US and UK following Thursday’s strikes
- Dramatic footage shows the moment bombs rained down on targets
- Incredible firepower aimed at Houthi targets included Tomahawk missiles, Reaper drones and 1,200mph jets
- An ex-British army chief said the strikes were ‘necessary’ to remove threats to global trade
- Prime Minister Rishi Sunak dubbed the strikes a ‘proportionate action in self-defence’
- President Joe Biden warned ‘he will not hesitate’ to launch further strikes to protect the free flow of commerce
- Australia, Bahrain, Canada and the Netherlands backed the US-UK airstrikes
- The Houthi rebel group said five militants were killed and six injured
- Both Iran and Hezbollah have condemned the attacks as a ‘clear violation of Yemen’s sovereignty’
Mr Sunak said UK airstrikes against the group – who control much of Yemen – were a “limited and proportionate” reaction to attacks on international shipping.
The Houthis responded by threatening to target more ships sailing towards the vital Suez Canal passageway, and threatened to hit US bases in the region.
Air Marshal Edward Stringer said that degrading Houthi Red Sea attacks further would require a “24/7 air policing operation”.
He told Policy Exchange that such a plan would look similar to a no-fly zone but warned providing round-the-clock air cover for ships would be “too expensive”.
On Friday, Downing Street said no further bombing raids will be conducted in the region following concerns over the West’s military action.
Who are the Houthis?
The Houthi rebels are terrorising vessels in the Red Sea and now their bases are being struck by the US and UK - but who are they?
The Shia militant group, which now controls most of Yemen, spent over a decade being largely ignored by the world.
However, since the outbreak of the Israel-Gaza war they sprung from relative obscurity to holding roughly £1trillion of world trade hostage – turning one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes into an active warzone.
Why are they attacking ships?
The rebel group has been launching relentless drone and missile attacks on any ships they deem to be connected with Israel in solidarity with their ally Hamas.
The sea assaults have threatened to ignite a full-blown war in the Middle East as ripples from Israel’s war in Gaza are felt across the region – with Iran suspected of stoking the chaos.
However, there have been frequent attacks on commercial vessels with little or no link to Israel – forcing global sea traffic to halt operations in the region and sending shipping prices soaring.
Houthi attacks in the Red Sea increased 50 per cent between November and December.
Their slogan is “Death to America, Death to Israel, curse the Jews and victory to Islam”.
And the rebel group’s leaders have previously pledged the attacks will continue until Israel stops its devastating offensive inside Gaza.
On Thursday night, explosions rang out in Yemen and President Biden and PM Rishi Sunak struck over 60 Houthi targets.
Last night’s airstrikes were carried out with the support of Australia, Bahrain, Canada, and the Netherlands.
Denmark, Germany, New Zealand and South Korea also assisted.
Earlier today, shocking images emerged of gun-toting kids in the crowd as thousands took to the streets in Yemen to protest the joint UK and US airstrikes.
Supporters of the Iran-backed rebel group chanted “America is the Devil” as they flocked to the streets of the capital Sanaa.
