Yemen’s armed rebel group on Monday said it carried out three military operations targeting three ships in the Red Sea and Mediterranean Sea, using ballistic missiles, drones, and unmanned boats. The attack was announced by Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.
However, one of the boat bombs failed to detonate and that particular attack was apparently withdrawn. The UK Maritime Trade Organizations is placing its tally with today’s reports at a total of 101 incidents in 2024.
The first operation targeted the vessel identified by UK-based digital solutions provider Vanguard as the Panama-flagged product tanker Bentley I (40,000 dwt), 70 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah in the Red Sea. The rebels used several ballistic missiles, bomb-laden drones and small blue and white coloured boats. One of those boats was unmanned and collided twice with the tanker without an explosion. The other two boats were manned and gunfire was exchanged between the boats and the security guards on the tanker before the boats withdrew.
The second operation targeted the oil tanker, which Vanguard identifies as the Chios Lion (17,525 dwt) in the Red Sea, using bomb-laden drones. The vessel is Greek-owned and managed, with Vanguard reporting ships from the same management company have recently called in Israel. Another one of the company’s vessels, Transworld Navigator, Vanguard reports was targeted four times between June 21 and 23.
The third operation was carried out by Houthi forces in cooperation with the Iraqi Islamic Resistance in the Mediterranean Sea and targeted the ship Olvia and “the hit was accurate,” the Houthi spokesperson added, vowing for more attacks to come.
Since November last year, the Houthis have been launching anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones, targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets, which only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships.
The prior attack the Houthis announced over the weekend was against the MSC Unific VI (63,200 dwt). The undated report said the vessel was in the Gulf of Aden when they launched missiles toward the ship. The Liberian-registered containership (5652 TEU) reported departing Djibouti on July 11.
U.S. Central Command continues to issue its daily updates reporting on Sunday the destruction of both aerial and surface drones. EUNAVFOR Aspides also reported on Sunday that the Greek frigate HS Prasa had observed a swarm of aerial drones while escorting a merchant ship. One of the drones was intercepted and the others withdrew.
Also see our related article from last week: Troubled Waters Around Cape of Good Hope.
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