International Desk, Bangladesh Global: An oil tanker is on fire in the Gulf of Aden, its operator says, after Houthis said they hit it with a missile.
The Yemeni movement said it targeted the Marlin Luanda on Friday evening.
Operator Trafigura told the BBC the strike caused a fire in one of the ship's cargo tanks and firefighting equipment was being used to contain it.
US officials told the BBC's US partner CBS the tanker was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile and a naval ship was responding to its distress signal.
The officials said no injuries were reported.
It is the latest attack on commercial shipping by the Iran-backed Houthis in and around the Red Sea.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the incident happened 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden.
The UKMTO said warships were in attendance and supporting the vessel, adding all crew had been reported safe.
It warned other vessels to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity.
Later the US Central Command said its forces had conducted a strike at 03:45 local time (00:45 GMT) Saturday "against a Houthi anti-ship missile aimed into the Red Sea and which was prepared to launch". They "destroyed the missile in self-defence", CentCom said.
Trafigura earlier confirmed the Marlin Luanda tanker had been struck by a missile in the Gulf of Aden on Friday and military ships were on their way to provide assistance.
"Firefighting equipment on board is being deployed to suppress and control the fire caused in one cargo tank on the starboard side," a Trafigura spokesperson said.
Stay tuned for latest news and updates bangladeshglobal.com Log in to get breaking news and hot topics of the day:www.bangladeshglobal.com
