Another ship in the Red Sea has been attacked by a suspected Yemen Houthi rebel drone
A suspected Houthi drone attacked a UK-owned ship traveling through the southern Red Sea on Tuesday morning, officials said, the latest assault from the group terrorizing the key trade route.
The attack occurred just west of the Yemeni port of Hodeida, with the projectile causing “slight damage” to the ship’s windows on the bridge, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations.
The UK ship, bearing the Barbados flag, was identified by the Ambrey private security firm, which noted that no one on board was injured.
The ship, known as the Morning Tide, was owned by the British firm Furadino Shipping, which confirmed the details to the Associated Press, adding that the ship was still on route to make its designated stop in SIngapore.
Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday, but provided no evidence.
He also claimed that an American ship on the Red Sea was targeted as well, again, providing no proof. US officials have not confirmed an attack on a US ship Tuesday.
Many Houthi attacks notably miss their targets, to a point where the ships are initially unaware that a missile was fired at them.
Saree added that the Iran-backed terror group will continue its attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden until “the aggression against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is stopped.”
The Houthis have plagued the key trade routes between Europe and Asia since November as a show of support for its Hamas allies.
While the terror group had initially claimed to target only Israeli ships sailing in the waters, their members have frequently targeted US and UK cargo ships and navy destroyers.
The US and Britain have since launched a series of airstrikes against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, destroying several of their missile arsenals and launching sites.
The allied nations struck 36 Houthi targets in 10 different locations on Saturday, with US Central Command acknowledging the latest strikes on Monday that targeted two Houthi drone boats loaded with explosives.
American forces “determined they presented an imminent threat to US Navy ships and merchant vessels in the region,” Central Command said. “These actions will protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy vessels and merchant vessels.”
The ongoing attacks have also triggered the European Union to launch a full naval mission to guard cargo ships in the Red Sea, with seven nations ready to provide ships and planes.
A Houthi spokesman warned that the latest waves of attacks against the terrorists’ bases and weapons depots would not go “without response and punishment.”
