Houthi Attacks on Cargo Ships and Warships in the Red Sea: Latest Updates

Friday, 15/12/2023 06:52 WIB

Photo: Houthi military helicopters fly over the cargo ship Galaxy Leader in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023. (via REUTERS/HOUTHI MILITARY MEDIA)

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – The Houthi group continues to attack ships ‘bound for Israel’. Most recently, rebels in Yemen targeted a cargo ship identified as the Maersk Gibraltar with a drone as it sailed in the Red Sea.

“The operation targeting the ship was carried out after the ship’s crew refused to answer calls from the Yemeni navy,” the group said, adding that they had prevented several Israeli-bound ships from sailing off the coast of Yemen in the last 48 hours, quoted Friday (15/12/2023) .

The Houthis have vowed to block ships heading to Israel through the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait. This was until Israel allowed humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The Danish shipping company that owns Maersk Gibraltar said the cargo was headed to Saudi Arabia. This incident is very unfortunate.

“Recent attacks on commercial vessels in the Bab al-Mandab Strait are deeply concerning. The current situation endangers the lives of seafarers and is unsustainable for global trade,” said AP Moller-Maersk, as reported by the news agency Reuters.

Previously, a Norwegian-flagged oil tanker was also attacked by missiles in the same sea. The ship, named Strida, caught fire while crossing the sea stretching from East Africa to the Arabian Peninsula off the coast of Yemen.

“Strinda, a Norwegian owned and operated ship, was attacked around midnight local time, on Monday,” the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) was quoted as saying Al-JazeeraTuesday.

“The ship was attacked by what is thought to be an Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) launched from Houthi-controlled Yemeni territory as it passed Bab-el-Mandeb,” he added.

A French warship was also shot by drones in the Arabian Sea at the weekend. Last week’s British ship, which passed through the Red Sea, was reportedly hit by rocket fire last week.

Meanwhile, the Houthis also took another ship Galaxy Leader hostage. The Houthis emphasized that they would not stop until Israel stopped attacks on Gaza.

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