Edited by Deepali Verma
Yemen’s Houthi rebels said they had struck US and British ships in two recent attacks that took place in the Red Sea, the latest among dozens of incidents that have caused disruption in the global shipping. The Iran-backed rebels that control much of the war-torn country, have been hampering shipping in a campaign they say stands in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war.
Their attacks have provoked retaliation by US and British forces, including a wave of air strikes that hit dozens of targets recently.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said the first attack on February 6 “targeted the American ship Star Nasia, while the other targeted the British ship Morning Tide”.
The Houthis “will carry out increasing military operations against all hostile American-British targets” in self-defence, as per warning of Saree on X.
Initially, Security firm Ambrey reported a drone attack on a British-owned cargo ship off Yemen but later remarked that a projectile had targeted the Barbados-flagged vessel. Ambrey said that it was launched from a small boat that was sighted near the ship, adding that the projectile had no impact on the ship but exploded nearby, causing minor damage.
No casualties were reported among the crew, the British firm said.
UKMTO, a British maritime security agency, said it had received a report of an incident off the rebel-held port city of Hodeida.
“The master informed a projectile was fired at his vessel on the port side which passed over the deck, causing slight damage to the bridge windows,” informed the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, without identifying the vessel or the flag it was flying.
“The vessel and crew are safe,” it added, saying the ship was proceeding on its voyage as planned.
Trade disruption
The Greek merchant marine ministry informed that the Star Nasia sustained material damage but it did not appear to have been breached. Additionally, no injuries were reported among the Filipino crew.
Ambrey’s report highlighting the incident, said a Marshall Islands-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier was subject to a target while transiting southwest of Aden.
The vessel, coming from the United States to Bharat, reported an explosion some 50 metres off its starboard side, Ambrey said. No injuries were reported.
“The vessel’s owner finds himself listed on the US stock market,” the firm said. “Ambrey assessed the vessel to be US-affiliated because of the vessel owner and US port call.”
UKMTO also received a report of an explosion in the close vicinity of a merchant vessel transiting southwest of Aden. The vessel and crew were safe, without giving any additional details.
The Houthis have launched over 30 attacks on commercial shipping as well as naval vessels since November 19, as per the Pentagon.
In a helicopter assault dated November 19, the Houthis captured the Galaxy Leader, which is an Israel-linked cargo vessel and its 25 international crew, that included at least two Bulgarian nationals.
They forced it to the Hodeidah port, where it has remained.
Bulgarian Transport Minister Georgy Gvozdeykov said the sailors of the Galaxy Leader are “safe and sound” and would shortly be on their way to Bulgaria.
The Houthi attacks have instructed some shipping companies to take a detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a crucial route that normally carries close to 12 per cent of global maritime trade.
Generally, most of the trade between Asia and Europe usually passes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal that leads to the Mediterranean Sea.
As per the International Monetary Fund’s PortWatch platform, total transit volume through the Suez Canal was down 37 percent this year by January 16 compared with the same period a year earlier.
