The Houthis, a group of armed rebels based in Yemen and backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for a new missile attack on a British oil tanker amid Israel's war on Hamas in Gaza. The targeted vessel, identified by the United States as a Panamanian-flagged tanker carrying crude oil bound for India, faced a barrage of naval missiles on the Red Sea. The extent of damage to the tanker was not disclosed in the statement.<br />''<br />''The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed the incident late on Friday, reporting that an attack took place on the Pollux, about 70 nautical miles northwest of al-Mukha, a port city southwest of Yemen's capital, Sanaa. The vessel reported an explosion in close proximity but the crew and the tanker were deemed safe, and military authorities were responding.<br />''<br />''<br />