Cairo, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi rebels said on Dec. 12 that the group launched a missile attack on a Norwegian-flagged oil tanker loaded with "oil destined for Israel" on Dec. 12.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Sareya issued a statement on the 12th, saying that the tanker, named "Strinda", was loaded with "oil destined for Israel". After the crew refused to respond to the Houthis' warnings, the group fired several missiles at them.
The statement said the group had managed to prevent "several Israeli-linked vessels" from passing through the Red Sea over the past two days. The Houthis will "not hesitate" to attack ships that ignore the group's warnings.
In addition, the U.S. military ** command said on social media on the 12th that the Norwegian-flagged oil tanker was attacked by "anti-ship missiles launched from Houthi-controlled areas" while passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The Bab el-Mandeb Strait is located at the southern end of the Red Sea, near the coast of Yemen, and is a must-pass for access to the Red Sea.
Since the outbreak of the new Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Houthis have repeatedly claimed attacks on targets in Israel and "Israeli ships" passing through the Yemeni coast. On the 3rd, the Houthis launched a drone attack on a merchant ship passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. (ENDS).