Breaking! Another Cargo Ship Is On Fire From Rocket Fire.

According to Reuters on December 12, Yemen's Houthis said on December 12 that they had taken military action against the Norwegian commercial oil tanker "Strinda," the organization's latest protest against Israel's bombing of Gaza.

On December 9, the Houthis issued a statement saying that if food and medicine could not enter the Gaza Strip, any ship bound for Israel would become a "legitimate target" for the organization's armed forces (regardless of nationality and whether or not the ship's ownership was linked to Israel). The organization warned that all international shipping companies should refrain from dealing with Israeli ports in view of the safety of maritime navigation.

In a statement broadcast on television, Houthi spokesman Yahya Sarea reportedly said that the group had attacked the tanker with rockets after the crew of the Strinda refused to respond to all warnings.

Sarea vowed that the Houthis would continue to block ships bound for Israeli ports until Israel allowed food and medical aid into the Gaza Strip, the report said.

A U.S. official told Reuters that the attack on the tanker "Strinda" took place at about 21:00 GMT on the 11th (05:00 GMT on the 12th), about 60 nautical miles north of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, which connects the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden. According to another United States official, the Strinda was able to move under its own power within hours of the attack.

In a statement on social media platform X, U.S. Central Command said, "There were no U.S. ships in the vicinity at the time of the attack, but the USS Mason, a destroyer, responded to a distress call from the USS Strada. Assistance is currently being provided."

Also, according to information from the UK Maritime Trade Operations Office (UKMTO), a fire broke out on a vessel near the Strait of Bab al-Mandeb, 15 miles west of the Yemeni port of Mokha, and all crew members aboard the affected vessel are safe.

Geir Belsnes, chief executive officer of J. Ludwig Mowinckels Rederi, the operator of the Strider, confirmed the attack, according to the Associated Press. "The Strider was traveling from Malaysia to the Suez Canal.

The U.S. military said in a statement that the attack caused fire and damage but no injuries.

A Houthi spokesman said the group had successfully prevented the passage of several ships in recent days in a show of support for the Palestinians.

At least six cargo ships have been attacked in the Red Sea since November, seriously challenging the stability of Red Sea trade channels.

Currently, the issue of the security of cargo ships in the Red Sea is of great concern to the international community. States have called for strengthened international cooperation to jointly address security threats in the Red Sea.

In order to ensure the safety of the navigation of cargo ships in the Red Sea, the Multinational Joint Task Force will work together to strengthen patrols and vigilance and take the necessary action to protect cargo ships from the threat of attack.

The Red Sea is of great significance to global trade as an important trade channel. The efforts of all countries will further strengthen the security and stability of the Red Sea and ensure the smooth conduct of international trade.