Jerusalem, Dec 18: A Cayman Islands-flagged tanker has been attacked in a crucial shipping route off Yemen, a US military official said Monday.
The attack that targeted the Swan Atlantic – a chemical and oil products carrier – is the latest in a series of assaults on vessels in the Red Sea and its strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
The attacks have been claimed by Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, who say they are targeting vessels linked to Israel in support of Palestinian militants.
The US official said the vessel was attacked by multiple projectiles at about 9 am local time. The USS Carney, a US warship which provides security to ships in the area, responded to the incident, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the attack. (AP)
