Houthis fire missile close to a tanker hauling Russian oil

Missiles exploded near a ship hauling Russian oil near Yemen in the latest sign of continued danger to all merchant shipping in the region. 

A Panama-flagged, India-affiliated ship which was carrying barrels from Russia, saw an explosion about 1 nautical mile away, according to intelligence firm Ambrey Analytics. The UK Navy said it received a report of two missiles exploding near an unidentified vessel. 

There was no damage to the ship, the UK Navy said. 

The incident is the third since the attacks began that has involved a ship previously calling at Russia.

Last week, a spokesman for Yemen’s Houthi militants told the Russian newspaper Izvestia that Russian and Chinese ships sailing through the Red Sea would be safe. The rebel group has said it will attack US, UK and Israel-linked ships in response to Israel’s war with Hamas and airstrikes on Yemen.