First in months: Houthis strike vessel in Red Sea
Illustrative photo: Yemeni Houthis (Getty Images)
Yemeni Houthis attacked a vessel on July 6, about 51 nautical miles southeast of the port city of Hodeidah in the Red Sea, according to Reuters and a report from the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO).
The Greek-flagged bulk carrier Magic Seas, sailing under the Liberian flag, was attacked using unmanned surface vessels (USVs), small arms, and rocket-propelled grenades. The crew on board returned fire.
"Two of the USVs impacted the port side of the vessel, damaging the vessel's cargo," UKMTO said. The attack resulted in a fire onboard.
During the incident, the vessel caught fire and began sinking. No injuries were reported among the crew. According to agency sources, the sailors abandoned the ship.
The Houthis later claimed responsibility, stating the attack was carried out in support of Palestinians in Gaza.
This marks the first such Houthi assault on the vital Red Sea shipping lane since mid-April. Back then, Houthi members followed a ship near Aden in small boats and opened fire.
Ongoing operations against Houthis
On March 16, Yemeni Houthis fired on the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea. A month later, on April 17, the US launched major strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen. The next day, US forces reported hitting the Ras Issa oil port, controlled by the Houthis.
At the end of April, the US and the UK carried out another joint operation targeting the group.
Read more about who the Houthis are and why they’re attacking ships in the Red Sea in the RBC-Ukraine report.
