Liberian-flagged Container Ship Hit By Houthi Missile Off Yemen Coast

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), an explosion occurred near a merchant vessel in the Arabian Sea on June 24, 2024.

The incident involving the Liberian-flagged containership MSC Sarah V caused no casualties or damage to the vessel, and the crew is safe.

The ship is en route to the next port of call.

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC) reported that MSC Sarah V was hit by a missile that landed in the water approximately 50 meters off the starboard side.

The vessel was 246 nautical miles southeast of Yemen’s Nishtun when the incident occurred.

The JMIC stated that the vessel was attacked because of its alleged association with Israel.

The incident is part of a series of operations carried out by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi militia, which has been launching drone and missile strikes in the shipping lanes since November 2023, expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

In recent months, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed atleast four seafarers.

There was no immediate response from the Houthi rebels regarding the missile attack on MSC Sarah V.

The attack on the MSC containership follows a drone strike on June 23, 2024, that damaged a merchant ship in the Red Sea near Yemen.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for this attack and for an attempted attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea on June 22, 2024, but the claims were disputed by U.S. officials.

In addition, the Houthis also reported targeting the merchant vessel Transworld Navigator in the Arabian Sea.

In response to the growing threat posed by Houthi attacks, the United States has formed a coalition of more than 200 countries to protect commercial traffic in the Red Sea.

Reference: Reuters

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Source: Maritime Shipping News