The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran and allies of Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, have for months been carrying out attacks off the coast of Yemen against ships they accuse of serving Israel.
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The crew is “safe and sound”. A merchant ship was damaged by a drone attack off the coast of Yemen, where Yemeni Houthi rebels are increasing their raids against merchant shipping, the British maritime security agency (UKMTO) announced on Sunday June 23. The boat was able to continue its route to the next port planned on its route, the agency said on X.
The Houthi rebels, supported by Iran and allies of Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah, have for months been carrying out attacks off the coast of Yemen against ships which, according to them, serve Israel, saying they are acting in support of the Gaza Strip. bombed by the Israeli army.
On June 12, the M/V Tutor, a Greek ship flying the Liberian flag, was struck by a maritime drone and a Houthi missile before sinking in the Red Sea. And another cargo ship hit by rebel-fired missiles, the M/V Verbena, was abandoned in the Gulf of Aden by its crew.
Attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, key maritime areas for global trade, have sent insurance costs soaring and prompted many shipping companies to take a much longer route, bypassing the southern tip of Africa to connect Europe and Asia. In addition to attacks on ships, the Houthis have recently arrested more than a dozen aid workers, including UN employees, accusing them of being part of a “US-Israeli spy network”.
On Thursday, Washington called on Yemeni rebels to release aid workers, while the US military announced it had “destroy” four unmanned boats and two Houthi drones.
