Yemen's Houthi rebels are believed to have fired an Iranian-made anti-ship cruise missile at a Norwegian-flagged tanker in the Red Sea in December, according to a report by the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. The attack on the Strinda, which occurred on December 11, has been linked to Tehran, the main backer of the Houthi rebels in Yemen's ongoing conflict.
The missile strike on the Strinda, which was en route from Malaysia to Italy carrying palm oil, set the vessel ablaze but fortunately did not result in any casualties. Analysis of debris found on board the Strinda led the U.S. military to identify the missile used as the Iranian Noor anti-ship ballistic cruise missile.
The Noor missile, reverse-engineered by Iran from the Chinese C-802 anti-ship missile, is believed to have a range of up to 170 kilometers. The Houthi rebels, who have been engaged in a campaign of attacks in the Red Sea corridor, are suspected of using a similar missile known as the Al-Mandeb 2.
The Norwegian Shipowners’ Mutual War Risks Insurance Association also examined the debris from the Strinda attack and concluded that it was highly likely the vessel had been hit by a C-802 or Noor anti-ship cruise missile.
Despite Iran's denial of arming the Houthis, multiple arms shipments bound for the rebels have been seized by the U.S. and its allies in Middle Eastern waters. The U.S. Navy recently seized parts related to the Noor anti-ship cruise missile from an Iranian dhow near the coast of Somalia.
The Houthi attacks on shipping have intensified in recent months, with over 70 vessels targeted since November. The rebels claim their attacks are aimed at ships linked to Israel, the United States, or Britain in support of Hamas, but many of the targeted vessels have no apparent connection to the conflict.
The Defense Intelligence Agency report highlighted the Houthi rebels' use of Iran-supplied weapons in more than 100 attacks on land-based targets and dozens of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
