A missile attack damaged a ship on Tuesday in the Red Sea, off the coast of Yemen. The attack happened near the port city of Hodeida, close to the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, which connects to the Gulf of Aden. This area is important for international shipping.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that the ship was damaged in the attack and later experienced an impact in the water nearby.
Despite the damage, the crew was reported safe, and the ship continued to its next destination. The private security firm Ambrey said that the ship reported by radio that its cargo hold was damaged and it was taking on water.
The ship involved in the attack is believed to be the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Laax, which was heading to Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. The ship is managed by Grehel Ship Management, based in Piraeus, Greece. When contacted, a representative from Grehel declined to comment on the incident.
While no group has immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, suspicion fell on Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The Houthis have carried out several attacks on ships recently, demanding that Israel stop its war in Gaza. This conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with over 36,000 Palestinians killed.
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The conflict in Yemen started in 2014 when the Houthi rebels seized the capital, Sanaa. A Saudi-led coalition joined the war in 2015 to support Yemen’s exiled government. The war has reached a stalemate, and Saudi Arabia is seeking a peace deal with the Houthis.
Despite ongoing attacks, the pace of Houthi assaults has decreased recently, although they have claimed to shoot down US surveillance drones.
International Concerns
The attacks on shipping have raised international concerns, causing a decline in shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden due to the threats. The United States Maritime Administration reported that the Houthis have launched over 50 attacks on ships, seizing one vessel and sinking another since November.
Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, the prime minister of Yemen’s exiled government, spoke in Dubai, urging the world to recognize the Houthis’ exploitation of the Palestinian cause to avoid peace efforts. He emphasized the need for peace and stability in the region, stating that the war must end for the benefit of Yemen and its people.
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