At least three sailors have been killed in a Houthi missile attack on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden.
This is the first fatality reported since the Iran-backed Yemeni rebel group began attacks against ships over Israel’s war on Gaza.
A Liberian-owned ship with a Barbados flag named ‘True Confidence’ was set on fire following the Houthi missile attack on Wednesday, almost 50 nautical miles (93km) away from the port of Aden on the Yemeni coast.
The True Confidence is owned by the Liberian-registered company True Confidence Shipping and operated by the Greece-based Third January Maritime, they both collectively stated that they denied US links.
According to the US military’s Central Command, three fatalities, at least four injuries and significant damage to the ship were reported.
“These reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers simply doing their jobs, which are some of the hardest jobs in the world, and the ones relied on by the global public for sustainment of supply chains,” Central Command said in a statement.
Moreover, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said the ship was no longer under the command of the crew since they had left the scene in different boats.
In a prerecorded video, Houthi military spokesman Brigadier General Yahya Saree took responsibility for the attack.
He stated that the rebels would only stop the attacks when the “siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza is lifted”.
As the missiles hit the vessel, the crew used lifeboats for rescue. As per The Associated Press report, a US warship and the Indian navy were present around, supporting the rescue operation.
Meanwhile, the UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric urged Houthis “to cease all attacks against international shipping in the Red Sea, as the attacks are causing risks “to property, to life, to ecology in the area”.
Houthi fighters in Yemen have repeatedly launched drones and missiles against international commercial shipping linked to Israel since mid-November, in solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip.
The Houthi attacks have troubled global shipping and trade, pushing vessels to take longer routes around Southern Africa spending more money and fuel.
Despite the air raids of the US-led coalition trying to stop the Houthi force, the group has remained capable of continuing their activities.
On Tuesday, Houthis targeted the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer that has been active in the US mission against the Yemeni rebels.
