Title: Houthi Rebels Attack Tanker Carrying Russian Oil

Recently, there’s been news about an attack on a tanker carrying Russian oil by Yemeni Houthi rebels. The tanker, named Marlin Luanda and owned by the Trafigura Group, was transporting Russian petroleum products used for making gasoline and plastics. The incident has raised concerns because the oil loaded onto the tanker in Greece might have violated EU and US sanctions on Russian oil exports.

Why was the oil loaded in Greece? Well, it turns out that Europe turned down Russian oil due to the conflict in Ukraine. So, a lot of Russian oil now heads through the southern Red Sea to Asian buyers. The attacked tanker was part of this route, carrying fuel from Russia, which likely worried Moscow.

The tanker got its cargo from Russia through a process called “ship-to-ship transfer” off the southern coast of Greece. This area is crucial for getting Russian oil to the global market. But here’s the catch: some shady trading schemes might be involved.

Trafigura, along with other big traders like Glencore Plc, Vitol Group, and Gunvor Group, used to be major suppliers of Russian oil before the war in Ukraine. They were also partners in big oil projects with Russian state companies. But after the US, Europe, and the UK imposed sanctions on Russian energy exports, Trafigura backed off from these deals. Still, Trafigura’s CEO said they were trading small amounts of Russian oil products. This incident raises questions about how such big trading houses are still moving Russian oil using less-than-clear methods while the war in Ukraine goes on.

As for the attack itself, it happened on January 26, when Yemeni Houthi rebels fired rockets at the Marlin Luanda tanker about 55 miles southeast of Aden. The attack caused a fire onboard. This incident also shows that the US and its allies haven’t really weakened the Houthi rebels, even after airstrikes on their targets in Yemen.

The conflict with the Houthis has been going on since November 2023. They’ve been launching all sorts of attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Aden Strait since then. The attacks picked up pace during the Israel-Hamas conflict in October.

To counter the attacks, the US and Britain launched missiles at Houthi military sites in Yemen on January 12. The US also labeled the Houthis a global terrorist group on January 17 and launched more strikes against them. Since January 11, US forces and allies have taken out more than 25 Houthi missile sites. The US also slapped sanctions on key Houthi figures for supporting terrorist activities in the Red Sea.

On January 25, the US asked China to talk to Iran, which supports the Houthis, to get them to stop their attacks. The day after, on January 26, the Houthis tried to hit the US destroyer USS Carney with an anti-ship missile, but it was intercepted.

This attack on the tanker and the ongoing conflict with the Houthis show how complicated things are in that region. It’s not just about one group fighting another; it involves big players like the US, Russia, and Iran, all trying to influence what happens.

In conclusion, the attack on the tanker carrying Russian oil is a reminder of the challenges in the Middle East and the Red Sea. It’s not just about oil or rebels; it’s about politics, conflicts, and global interests intersecting in a volatile region. As the situation unfolds, it’s crucial for international actors to work towards stability and peace in the area.