TheLittleTwentieth – Renowned Papers Edition, AI Infused

Local sources from Norway: Aftenposten, NRK.
UK coverage: bbc.co.uk.

On Monday, a Norwegian-owned tanker, the MK Strinda, was hit by a missile in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen. The incident occurred in the Bab al-Mandab strait, which connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden and is a crucial shipping route for 17,000 ships and 10% of global trade. The missile was fired by the Houthi militia, according to the US Central Command for the Middle East, East Africa, and Central Asia. The attack occurred around 4 PM US time on Monday, which is 10 PM Norwegian time.

The Norwegian-owned ship, Strinda, is owned by J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, based in Bergen. The ship is slightly over 144 meters long and just over 24 meters wide. The shipping company confirmed to NTB (Norwegian News Agency) that one of their ships was hit by a rocket in the Red Sea and that no one on board was injured. The ship is making its way to a safe harbor under its own power.

The US Central Command also confirmed the incident, stating that the rocket was fired by the Houthi militia and that Strinda reported damage that resulted in an onboard fire, but there were no injuries or fatalities at that time. The US Navy ship Mason arrived at the scene to provide assistance.

The Houthi militia has targeted international shipping as part of a regional conflict stemming from the war between Hamas and Israel. On Saturday, the group warned that all ships heading to Israel were targets, regardless of nationality. They also cautioned all international shipping companies against having any dealings with Israeli ports.

According to the website Marine Traffic, the ship was traveling from the port of Tanjung Langsat in Malaysia to the Suez Canal. Geir Belsnes, CEO of A. J. Mowinckels shipping company, told NRK that they believe it was all a misunderstanding. He further explains that the ship had what he refers to as a “tentative agreement” to transport cargo from the port of Ashdod in Israel in January next year. This journey was supposed to take place after the ship’s current trip to Italy.

The attack highlights the ongoing conflict in Yemen and the potential risks to international shipping in the region. The Houthi rebels have previously targeted and attacked commercial vessels in the area. French authorities reported today that a French frigate destroyed a drone that was heading towards the tanker. The ship and its crew were assisted by the US and French navies and brought to safety.