Houthi Escalation Takes Dangerous Turn with Massive Fire on British Tanker

British oil tanker targeted in Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden (AFP)
British oil tanker targeted in Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden (AFP)
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Houthi Escalation Takes Dangerous Turn with Massive Fire on British Tanker

British oil tanker targeted in Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden (AFP)
British oil tanker targeted in Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden (AFP)

Houthi militias in Yemen have escalated attacks on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, reaching a critical point with a missile hitting a British oil tanker on Friday.

The resulting massive blaze on the Marlin Luanda took hours to control, raising fears of an environmental disaster if the tanker sank.

The Marlin Luanda is operated on behalf of Trafigura, a multinational trading giant domiciled in Singapore.

Earlier, Trafigura said a fire in the ship’s cargo tank had been extinguished with the help of Indian, US and French Navy vessels and all crew were safe.

“We would like to recognize the exceptional dedication and bravery of the ship’s master and crew who managed to control the fire in highly difficult circumstances, as well as the essential assistance provided by Indian, United States and French Navy vessels to achieve this outcome,” a spokesperson said.

Houthi threats to shipping in the region persisted despite joint US-UK strikes against the group's sites in Yemen earlier this week.

On Saturday, the US responded to the Houthi missile threat with early strikes. Houthis confirmed the attack, claiming it targeted a site near the Ras Isa port in northern Hodeidah.

Since November 19, there have been around 34 Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Despite 10 US strikes, two involving the UK, the threat to a crucial trade route persists.

Iranian-backed Houthis say they attack to block Israeli ships and now also target US and UK vessels, tying the end of these assaults to a resolution in Gaza.

The head of Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council (PLC), Rashad Al-Alimi, emphasized on Saturday that military strikes are not the solution.

Al-Alimi reiterated his belief in collaboration with the Yemeni government to restore the state and its institutions, offering an alternative approach to the ongoing military efforts against the Houthi threat.



Blaze at Cairo Telecom Building Kills 4 and Disrupts Internet, Phone

A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
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Blaze at Cairo Telecom Building Kills 4 and Disrupts Internet, Phone

A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
A boy wearing a mask looks on, as firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted in a telecommunications building in the Ramses district of downtown Cairo, Egypt July 7, 2025. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh

Four workers were killed and at least 22 others were injured in a fire that broke out on Monday at a key data center in Cairo, Hossam Abdel Ghaffar, the spokesperson at Egypt's Health Ministry, told Reuters on Tuesday.

The blaze at a Telecom Egypt facility, which state TV said was contained on Monday, caused disruptions to communications across the capital.

Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Amr Talaat, said in a statement on Tuesday that services will be gradually restored within 24 hours.

In a statement on Tuesday, Telecom Egypt said it mourned the employees that lost their lives and offered support for their families.

The fire halted phone calls, and disrupted internet access, with internet monitoring group Netblocks saying network data showed national connectivity at 62% of ordinary levels.

The health ministry posted alternative numbers for ambulance services across different governorates in case people were unable to reach its main hotline.

Besides phone calls, some digital banking services were also impacted including credit cards, ATM machines and online transactions, a bank source and residents said on Monday. Banks had already been closed for the day.

The injuries were mostly because of smoke inhalation, health ministry spokesperson Ghaffar said on Monday.

The state news agency MENA said on Monday the fire had been prevented from spreading to the entire building and neighboring rooftops.

An initial examination indicated that the fire was likely to have been caused by an electrical short circuit, MENA cited a security source as saying.