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In a Houthi missile strike on a cargo ship off southern Yemen, two crew members lost their lives, marking the first fatalities resulting from the group’s attacks on merchant vessels, according to US officials.
The targeted vessel, the Barbados-flagged True Confidence, had been abandoned and was drifting with a fire on board. The attack occurred in the Gulf of Aden around 09:30 GMT.
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The Houthis claim their actions support the Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The True Confidence was contacted by a group identifying as the “Yemeni Navy,” instructing a course change, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency.
The vessel was then hit, causing damage and igniting a fire. The UKMTO stated that naval vessels from a US-led international maritime coalition were aiding the ship and its crew.
The EU’s Maritime Security Centre-Horn of Africa confirmed ongoing rescue and salvage operations. The ship, owned by True Confidence Shipping SA and operated by Third January Maritime Ltd, was en route from China to Saudi Arabia, carrying steel products and trucks.
The crew included individuals from India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
The Houthi attacks on shipping in the region have intensified in recent months, prompting concerns about the effectiveness of countermeasures.
The US State Department condemned the attacks, emphasizing the need for global accountability. Calls to halt Houthi attacks on shipping have come from the US, UK, Bahrain, and other nations. The situation raises questions about potential escalation and its implications for the already tense regional situation.
