Houthis Attack UK-Flagged Cargo Ship In The Red Sea

A missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has damaged a UK registered ship travelling through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, forcing the crew to abandon the ship.

- JON GAMBRELL

The attack on the ship came as the US military acknowledged that it had conducted new airstrikes against the rebels, including one that targeted the first Houthi underwater drone seen since the rebels began launching their attacks on shipping in November. Yesterday the EU launched a naval mission to help protect cargo ships in the Red Sea.

The ship targeted in the Houthi attack on Sunday reported that it had sustained damage after “an explosion in close proximity to the vessel”, United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. “Military authorities report crew have abandoned the vessel,” UKMTO said. “Vessel at anchor and all crew are safe.”

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the Houthis, issued a statement claiming the attack, saying the vessel was “now at risk of potentially sinking”.

“The ship suffered catastrophic damages and came to a complete halt,” he said. “During the operation, we made sure that the ship’s crew exited safely.” The Iran-backed Houthis also claimed they had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone, but this was not immediately acknowledged by US forces in the region.