Houthis Claim Attack On 6 Ships Across 3 Major Seas

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for conducting strikes on six ships across three ships.

The strikes targeted vessels in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, according to televised statements aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, reported the attacks in an announcement on Wednesday, claiming that they utilised a combination of ballistic missiles and drones.

The targeted vessels were the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Laax, the Morea, Sealady, Alba, Maersk Hartford, and Minerva Antonia.

The Houthi group confirmed the precision of their strikes, stating that they intend to continue such assaults until Israel ceases its military operations in the Gaza Strip.

Among the targeted vessels, the Laax was damaged after being hit by five missiles while transporting grain.

Fortunately, the crew was unharmed, and the vessel could resume its journey with minor issues.

One of the targeted vessels, the US-flagged Maersk Hartford container ship, has been verified by its operator, Maersk Line, to have escaped any attack.

These attacks come amid an ongoing conflict in the region, with Israeli forces moving to Rafah despite an International Court of Justice order to stop attacking the city.

The Houthi group launched its attack on maritime targets in November, claiming to support Palestinians in Gaza.

Their attacks have included anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones, primarily aimed at vessels with alleged ties to Israel.

Since January, a US-UK naval coalition has conducted air and missile strikes on Houthi locations.

Despite these measures, Houthi attacks have continued and expanded, with commercial and naval vessels from the US and UK becoming the targets.

Additionally, US Centcom has verified the destruction of two missile launchers and two unmanned aerial systems launched from the Houthi-controlled areas.

As tensions in the region remain high, the effects of these attacks on global shipping and efforts to de-escalate the conflict are major concerns for international observers and stakeholders.

Reference: Reuters

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Source: Maritime Shipping News