Iran-Backed Houthis Attack Two Ships in Red Sea, Indian Ocean

Photo: Reuters

Sanaa, Yemen: On Sunday, a drone attack damaged a merchant ship in the Red Sea near Yemen, as Iran-backed Houthi rebels intensified their naval assaults along this crucial trade route. Vessels in and around the Red Sea have faced persistent attacks from Yemen's Houthi rebels for months, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

The incident occurred approximately 65 nautical miles (120 kilometers) west of Hodeida, Yemen's port city, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), overseen by the Royal Navy.

"The Master of a merchant vessel reports being hit by an unmanned aerial system (UAS), resulting in damage to the vessel," stated a bulletin from UKMTO, adding that the vessel is en route to its next port with no initial reports of casualties. Authorities are investigating the incident.

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British maritime security firm Ambrey identified the affected vessel as a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier owned by a Greek company.

The Joint Maritime Information Centre (JMIC), collaborating with a Western-led naval task force in the region, confirmed this was the second attack on the vessel, following an earlier missile strike during its passage through the Gulf of Aden.

"While transiting in the Red Sea, the vessel reported being hit... Several crew members sustained non-life-threatening injuries not requiring immediate medical attention," JMIC reported, attributing the attack to the vessel's association with others making port calls in Israel.

Later the same day, UKMTO received a distress call from another vessel off Yemen's southeastern coast, reporting uncontrollable flooding that forced the crew to abandon ship. They were safely recovered by another vessel while the flooded vessel remains adrift.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for targeting two ships, one in the Red Sea and another in the Indian Ocean, using unmanned aerial systems and cruise missiles. He reported a direct hit on the vessel Transworld Navigator.

Meanwhile, the United States Central Command responded by destroying three Houthi naval drones over the past 24 hours, citing imminent threats to US, coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. Additionally, three anti-ship missiles launched by the Houthis into the Gulf of Aden caused no injuries or significant damage, according to Central Command.

The escalation underscores growing maritime security concerns in the region amidst ongoing conflicts and geopolitical tensions.

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