The Houthi Movement, a rebel group in Yemen, has fired missiles at two ships in the Red Sea, despite recent strikes by the US and UK on the group. The leader of the Houthis, Abdul Malik al-Houthi, warned that they would “further escalate” if the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza did not end. The targeted ships were the Greek-owned Star Nasia and the Morning Tide, owned by British company Furadino Shipping Ltd.
Although the Star Nasia was damaged, the crew members were unharmed. The Morning Tide also experienced an explosion near the ship but sustained no damage, and there were no injuries reported. These attacks come after a series of airstrikes by the US and UK, including strikes on uncrewed explosive surface vehicles and Houthi missiles. The US has conducted additional strikes without UK involvement.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency confirmed reports of an attack on a ship in the Red Sea, west of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah. British maritime security firm Ambrey stated that a general cargo ship owned by a British company and sailing under a Barbados flag had suffered damage during an attack while passing through the sea.
The Houthis have been targeting Red Sea ships for some time now, and the recent US and UK strikes have failed to slow down their attacks. HMS Diamond, a UK warship involved in protecting merchant ships from Houthi attacks, described the situation in the region as “fraught.” Commander Peter Evans stated that ships in the force are firing on a daily basis. HMS Richmond will now take over Red Sea patrols from HMS Diamond.
The Houthis view Israeli, US, and British ships as legitimate targets due to Israel’s war on Hamas in Gaza. They claim to only target vessels with connections to these countries. Since November, the group has launched numerous attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, causing concerns about supply bottlenecks and the impact on international trade.
The ongoing conflict in Yemen and the Houthi movement’s actions continue to pose a threat to maritime security in the Red Sea. Efforts to protect ships and maintain trade flow in the region remain a challenge for international forces.
