Chinese-owned tanker hit by Houthi missiles in Red Sea – days after China told its ships are safe

Houthi rebels launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles in the Red Sea near the Huang Pu before a fifth hit the vessel, the US Central Command said

‘The Houthis attacked the MV Huang despite previously stating they would not attack Chinese vessels,’ the US military said in a statement

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New recruits to the Houthis’ armed militia take part in a parade earlier this month amid tensions with a US-led coalition tasked with protecting Red Sea shipping. Photo: EPA-EFE

Published: 1:00pm, 24 Mar 2024

A Chinese-owned oil tanker was attacked off Yemen by ballistic missiles fired by Houthi rebels, who have intensified strikes on Red Sea shipping, the US military said.

The Panamanian-flagged, Chinese-owned and operated Huang Pu issued a distress call on Saturday but did not request assistance, US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on social media platform X early on Sunday.

“No casualties were reported, and the vessel resumed its course,” the statement said.

The Iran-backed rebels, who control much of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes on shipping over the past four months, actions they say are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

CENTCOM and the British Navy’s United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations (UKMTO) said a fire had broken out on board the ship but was extinguished within 30 minutes.

The Marinetraffic tracking website later had the vessel sailing out of the Red Sea into the Gulf of Aden heading for its next port of call which, according to maritime security agency Ambrey, was New Mangalore in India.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the attack, which UKMTO said struck 23 nautical miles west of the Yemeni port of Mokha.

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