Houthi Rebels Damage Ship in Gulf of Aden Amid Israel-Hamas Conflict
In the midst of the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched another attack, this time targeting a ship in the Gulf of Aden. The attack occurred on Wednesday and resulted in significant damage to the vessel. This incident comes as part of a series of assaults by the Houthi rebels in response to Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Simultaneously, the United States’ military was engaged in its own operations against the Houthi rebels. A U.S. destroyer successfully shot down drones and a missile launched by the rebels. Additionally, the Indian navy released images of their efforts to combat a fire aboard a container ship that had been targeted by the Houthis. These events highlight the escalating tensions and conflicts in the Middle East’s waterways.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, Iran announced its intention to confiscate a $50 million cargo of Kuwaiti crude oil belonging to American energy firm Chevron Corp. The oil was aboard a tanker that Iran had seized almost a year ago. This latest development further underscores the ongoing shadow war that has been unfolding in the region’s waterways for years, even before the Houthi attacks began.
The specific target of Wednesday’s attack in the Gulf of Aden was a Barbados-flagged bulk carrier called True Confidence. The ship had previously received radio messages from individuals claiming to be from the Yemeni military. The Houthis have been hailing ships over the radio in both the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, raising suspicions that they intend to seize these vessels.
The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported that the True Confidence had been hit in the attack and sustained damage. However, the extent of the damage remains unclear. The Houthis have not claimed responsibility for the attack yet, but it is typical for them to take several hours before acknowledging their assaults.
Despite the airstrikes led by the United States over the past month and a half, the Houthi rebels have continued to launch significant attacks. These include the recent sinking of a cargo ship carrying fertilizer, the Rubymar, and the downing of an American drone worth millions of dollars. The rebels’ ability to carry out such attacks raises questions about their resilience and capabilities.
The motive behind the Houthi rebels’ targeting of the True Confidence remains unknown. The ship is listed as being owned by Oaktree Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based fund that purchases vessels and sells them back to companies on installments. The company has not yet commented on the incident.
In a separate assault on Tuesday, the Houthis targeted the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer involved in the American campaign against the rebels. The attack involved bomb-carrying drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile. In response, the U.S. military’s Central Command launched an airstrike, destroying three anti-ship missiles and three bomb-carrying drone boats. The Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, acknowledged the attack but claimed that their forces had targeted two American warships.
Saree stated that the Houthis would not cease their attacks until the aggression against them stopped and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip was lifted. However, he did not acknowledge the subsequent U.S. airstrikes. The Houthi rebels have not provided any assessment of the damage they have suffered from the American-led strikes, although they have confirmed that at least 22 of their fighters have been killed.
Meanwhile, the Indian navy released a video showing their sailors fighting a fire aboard the MSC Sky II, which had been targeted by the Houthis in the Gulf of Aden on Monday. The vessel displayed scorch marks from the impact of a Houthi missile, but the fire was successfully extinguished, and no crew members were injured.
In a separate incident, Iran announced the seizure of crude oil aboard the Advantage Sweet, alleging that it had collided with another ship. However, the court order for the seizure cited U.S. sanctions that supposedly prohibited the importation of a Swedish medicine used to treat patients with a rare genetic condition. The reasons for the seizure remain unclear, and it is not the first time Iran has made allegations that later proved to be false.
Ship seizures and explosions have been a recurring issue in the region since 2019. These incidents began after the United States unilaterally withdrew from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers. The U.S. Navy has previously accused Iran of carrying out limpet mine attacks on tankers in 2019 and a fatal drone attack on an Israeli-linked oil tanker in 2021. Tehran denies responsibility for these attacks.
The situation in the Middle East’s waterways remains tense and volatile. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, coupled with the Houthi rebels’ attacks and other regional tensions, creates a complex and challenging environment.
