Crew Members Killed in Houthi Missile Strike on Cargo Ship off Southern Yemen
In a tragic turn of events, two crew members have lost their lives in a Houthi missile strike on a cargo ship off the coast of southern Yemen. This marks the first time that the group’s attacks on merchant vessels have resulted in fatalities. The Barbados-flagged True Confidence had been abandoned and was drifting with a fire on board when it was hit in the Gulf of Aden. The attack occurred approximately 50 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni city of Aden.
The Houthis claim that their attacks are in support of the Palestinians amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. They argue that the True Confidence’s crew had ignored warnings from Houthi naval forces. However, the British embassy in Yemen has condemned these attacks, stating that they are reckless and must come to an end. The embassy emphasized that the deaths of the sailors were a sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis’ actions.
Alongside the two fatalities, six crew members were also injured in the attack. The True Confidence had been hailed over VHF radio by a group identifying itself as the “Yemeni navy” and ordered to change course, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency. Shortly after, nearby vessels reported a loud bang and a large plume of smoke. The ship suffered damage, and naval vessels from a US-led international maritime coalition rushed to support it.
Rescue and salvage operations are currently underway, with the EU’s Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa (MSCHOA) also involved in the efforts. However, there is no information available regarding the condition of the ship’s crew of 20 sailors and three armed guards. The Houthis claimed that the True Confidence was an “American ship,” but the ship managers’ spokesman clarified that it had no current connection with any US entity.
The US State Department has expressed its determination to hold the Houthis accountable for their attacks and called on governments worldwide to do the same. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, highlighted the Houthis’ disregard for innocent civilians transiting through the Red Sea, emphasizing that their actions have tragically resulted in the loss of innocent lives.
The True Confidence, owned by True Confidence Shipping SA and operated by Third January Maritime Ltd, had been sailing from Lianyungang in China to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. The vessel was carrying a cargo of steel products and trucks. It is worth noting that the ship had previously been owned by Oaktree Capital Management, a US-based company.
This attack comes after nearly four months of sustained drone and missile attacks by the Houthis on ships passing through the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea. The US-led naval task force in the region has been actively intercepting and neutralizing these threats. However, the sheer volume of attacks has made it impossible to eliminate every single one. The Houthis appear to have an endless supply of missiles and drones, raising questions about the effectiveness of the US-led airstrikes targeting Houthi launch sites and other strategic locations.
With the recent loss of life, there are growing calls for increased retaliation against the Houthis, potentially expanding the range of targets within Yemen. However, such actions risk further escalation in a region already tense due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The Houthis argue that their attacks are in support of the Palestinians, but several nations, including the US, UK, and Bahrain, have demanded an immediate end to these assaults on shipping.
This incident follows other recent attacks on vessels in the region. On Tuesday, US forces successfully intercepted a ballistic missile and three drones launched from Yemen at the destroyer USS Carney. Additionally, the Indian navy assisted in extinguishing a fire on board the container ship MSC Sky II on Monday, which had been hit by a missile but resulted in no injuries. Furthermore, the Belize-flagged cargo ship Rubymar sank in the Red Sea two weeks after being targeted by Houthi missiles. This marked the first sinking of a ship since the Houthi attacks began in November. The crew was rescued, but the vessel posed an environmental risk due to its cargo of 21 tonnes of ammonium nitrate fertilizer.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, it remains to be seen how governments and international organizations will respond to these attacks. The loss of life and the threat to global trade demand swift action to ensure the safety of innocent civilians and the security of maritime routes.