In a series of unsettling events, Ambrey, a renowned British maritime security company, disclosed on Sunday that three ships had fallen victim to targeting incidents off the coast of Yemen within less than a day. The incidents underscored escalating tensions in the region and raised concerns over maritime security.
While no immediate claims were asserted, these assaults occurred amid an ongoing campaign by Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen, specifically targeting vessels they believe to be affiliated with Israel during the Gaza conflict. Ambrey’s report, which indicated that “a vessel was targeted… southwest of Mukalla,” a key port city in Yemen, did not confirm whether the vessel had sustained damage.
This marked Ambrey’s second reported attack of the day. Earlier, the company had notified authorities of a projectile landing in close proximity to a ship southwest of the Aden port. Fortunately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations assured that no damage had been inflicted on the vessel, with the crew confirmed safe.
Sunday’s assaults followed closely on the heels of another incident where two missiles were aimed at a ship southwest of Hodeidah, as corroborated by both UKMTO and Ambrey. While one missile was intercepted by US-led coalition forces, the second missed its target, highlighting the gravity of the situation.
Since November, Huthi insurgents have unleashed a barrage of missile and drone strikes on shipping routes traversing the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. They assert solidarity with Palestinians amidst the Gaza conflict, escalating tensions in the region. In response, the United States, spearheading a multinational flotilla aimed at safeguarding Red Sea shipping, has intensified strikes on Huthi targets in Yemen since mid-January, with British warplanes also joining these operations.
In a televised address on Thursday, Huthi leader Abdul Malik al-Huthi revealed that over 400 strikes by US and British forces on Yemen since January have resulted in the loss of 37 lives and injuries to 30 others. While he did not specify the nature of the casualties, he affirmed their resolve to persist with strikes on Red Sea shipping, citing 34 attacks launched in the past month alone. The situation remains fluid, with regional tensions at an alarming high and maritime activities in the area under intense scrutiny.
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