The Yemeni Houthi militia, supported by the Islamic Republic of Iran, announced that they have targeted a container ship in the Red Sea. The Houthis claim that the ship was destined for Israel. Just a day before this announcement, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) had announced that the militia had fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the southern Red Sea.
According to Reuters, the Houthis, who control many areas of Yemen including its capital, have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea since October, claiming they have ties to Israel or are heading towards Israel, in solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza.
Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the Houthi military, announced in a television speech without specifying details that the group had targeted a container ship. He did not mention the time and location of the attack. Saree also stated that the Houthis had sent warning messages to the ship, but the ship’s crew did not pay attention to these warnings and threats.
In response to the claim by the Houthis, French shipping company CMA CGM stated to Reuters that the ship had no problems and was not damaged. The company also mentioned that the ship was not heading towards Israel, but was destined for Egypt.
Saree reiterated the Houthis’ position in his speech, emphasizing the continuation of attacks until aid reaches Gaza, and warned the United States, saying, “No attack by the US will go unanswered or unpunished.”
CENTCOM later announced that there were no reports of damage from the two missiles fired by the Houthis in that area. They also reported that several commercial ships in the area had reported the impact of the Houthi missiles in the surrounding waters.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations had previously reported three explosions near a commercial ship in the Bab el-Mandeb strait, 33 nautical miles east of Eritrea, and stated that no damage to the ships was recorded. In response to these attacks, several shipping companies suspended their ships’ movements through the Red Sea and opted for longer routes around Africa to reach their destination.
Reuters reported on Thursday, quoting a representative and ambassador of France to the United Nations, that members of the UN Security Council may hold a meeting on Thursday morning New York time to discuss the security of the Red Sea. The tensions in the Red Sea due to the attacks by the Houthi rebels on commercial and Israeli-related ships led to the Iranian navy frigate Alvand entering the Red Sea via the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Tuesday.