According to the US military, on Thursday, two cruise missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit a bulk cargo carrier in the Gulf of Aden, leaving an injured sailor who was airlifted by American troops.
Since November 2023, Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in an effort to demonstrate their solidarity with Palestinians during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in Gaza Strip.
Despite causing significant disruptions to global shipping operations, fatalities have been rare.
“The M/V Verbena — a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated ship – reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues to fight the fire. One civilian mariner was severely injured during the attack,” CENTCOM said in a statement.
The injured mariner was taken to a partner force vessel nearby for medical attention by Aircraft from USS Philippine Sea (CG 58), CENTCOM confirmed.
“This continued reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.”
Within past 24 hours alone, three ships including Verbena were attacked – according to Houthis themselves – as “a response to America-British aggression against our country” and “retaliation over crimes committed against our people in Gaza Strip”.
However, no casualties or damages occurred at Red Sea when UKMTO reported an explosion near a merchant ship about 80 miles northwest of Yemen’s rebel-held Hodeida port.
In addition over previous twenty-four hours CENTCOM disclosed that it had destroyed an air defense sensor; two patrol boats; and nautical as well as aerial drones belonging to Houthis.
Houthis have been conducting scores of drone attacks as well as missile strikes against shipping vessels within Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November while fighting a Saudi-led coalition that they displaced from Sanaa in 2014.
The first deaths from the attacks on ships occurred in March in the Gulf of Aden.
On Wednesday, southwest of Hodeida, Houthis attacked Tutor which is a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier by using seaborne and aerial drones and ballistic missiles.
Regarding the incident, CENTCOM said that “Tutor” was hit by a Houthi “unmanned surface vessel” that “caused severe flooding and damage to the engine room”.
According to CENTCOM on Thursday, it is wrong for Houthis to claim being on behalf of Palestinians living in Gaza while they are busy threatening lives of third country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict.
