Houthis Strike Liberian-Flagged Tanker in Red Sea With Missiles

The Iranian-backed Houthis claimed responsibility and said they also targeted a vessel in the Indian Ocean with ‘a winged missile.’

A container ship crosses an oil platform at the Gulf of Suez toward the Red Sea before entering the Suez Canal, outside of Cairo, Egypt, on Sept. 1, 2020. Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters

A Liberian-flagged oil tanker was targeted by a missile attack while traversing the Red Sea on Thursday, for which the Yemen-based Houthi terrorist group has claimed responsibility.

The Olympic Spirit tanker was hit by “an unknown projectile” 70 nautical miles (80 miles) southwest of Hodeida, Yemen, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO)—a maritime monitoring component affiliated with the British navy—said in an update on Oct. 10.