Fire put out on UK-linked tanker hit in Houthi attack as Britain vows to respond to rebels

A fire on a British-linked oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden has been put out after the vessel was struck by Houthi rebels.

The Government said the UK and its allies "reserve the right to respond appropriately" following the latest attack claimed by the Iranian-backed group.

The MV Marlin Luanda went up in flames on Friday night after Houthi rebels continued their threats to shipping in the region, despite a second round of joint US-UK strikes against rebel sites in Yemen at the start of the week, involving Cyprus-based RAF Typhoon fast jets. 

No-one was injured in the attack.

The ship sails under the flag of the Marshall Islands, but is managed by a company registered in the UK.

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The Yemeni militia group said it had targeted a British oil tanker after what it described as "American-British aggression against our country".

A British Government spokesperson said: "We have been clear that any attacks on commercial shipping are completely unacceptable and that the UK and our allies reserve the right to respond appropriately."