Bulk carrier hit by missile from Yemen, crew says three dead
A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden yesterday, with the crew reporting three people dead and at least four wounded, the US military said. — AFP pic/US Central Command
Thursday, 07 Mar 2024 7:39 AM MYT
DUBAI, March 7 — A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden yesterday, with the crew reporting three people dead and at least four wounded, the US military said.
The Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting merchant vessels transiting the vital Red Sea trade route for months and have previously hit ships in the area, but the deaths on Wednesday appear to be the first fatalities resulting from such an attack.
An anti-ship ballistic missile struck the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence, after which its crew reported “three fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, and significant damage to the ship”, the US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement.
“The crew abandoned the ship and coalition warships responded and are assessing the situation”, the military command said, noting that the attack was the fifth time the Houthis had launched an anti-ship ballistic missile in two days.
“These reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers”, Centcom added.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on social media that the True Confidence was targeted with multiple missiles “after the ship’s crew rejected warning messages” from the Houthis.
Months of attacks
The British embassy in Sanaa had earlier said the toll was at least two dead, describing the loss of life as “the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron meanwhile promised that “we will continue to stand up for freedom of navigation and back our words with actions.”
The United States and Britain have since January launched repeated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the ship attacks, but the rebels have continued to target merchant vessels.
They began attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in November, a campaign they say is intended to signal solidarity with Palestinians in the devastating Gaza war.
The Houthis have vowed to strike Israeli, British and American ships as well as vessels heading to Israeli ports, disrupting traffic through the vital trade route off Yemen’s shores.
The latest incident comes after a Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated ship sank on Saturday with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertiliser on board.
The ship, called the Rubymar, had been taking on water since a Houthi missile strike on February 18 damaged its hull and forced the evacuation of its crew to Djibouti.
The flurry of Houthi strikes has caused several major shipping firms to suspend passage through the Red Sea, which usually carries around 12 per cent of global trade. — AFP
Thursday, 07 Mar 2024 7:39 AM MYT
DUBAI, March 7 — A missile fired by Yemen’s Houthi rebels hit a bulk carrier in the Gulf of Aden yesterday, with the crew reporting three people dead and at least four wounded, the US military said.
The Iran-backed Houthis have been targeting merchant vessels transiting the vital Red Sea trade route for months and have previously hit ships in the area, but the deaths on Wednesday appear to be the first fatalities resulting from such an attack.
An anti-ship ballistic missile struck the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence, after which its crew reported “three fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, and significant damage to the ship”, the US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement.
“The crew abandoned the ship and coalition warships responded and are assessing the situation”, the military command said, noting that the attack was the fifth time the Houthis had launched an anti-ship ballistic missile in two days.
“These reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers”, Centcom added.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on social media that the True Confidence was targeted with multiple missiles “after the ship’s crew rejected warning messages” from the Houthis.
Months of attacks
The British embassy in Sanaa had earlier said the toll was at least two dead, describing the loss of life as “the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping.”
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron meanwhile promised that “we will continue to stand up for freedom of navigation and back our words with actions.”
The United States and Britain have since January launched repeated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the ship attacks, but the rebels have continued to target merchant vessels.
They began attacking ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in November, a campaign they say is intended to signal solidarity with Palestinians in the devastating Gaza war.
The Houthis have vowed to strike Israeli, British and American ships as well as vessels heading to Israeli ports, disrupting traffic through the vital trade route off Yemen’s shores.
The latest incident comes after a Belize-flagged, Lebanese-operated ship sank on Saturday with 21,000 metric tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertiliser on board.
The ship, called the Rubymar, had been taking on water since a Houthi missile strike on February 18 damaged its hull and forced the evacuation of its crew to Djibouti.
The flurry of Houthi strikes has caused several major shipping firms to suspend passage through the Red Sea, which usually carries around 12 per cent of global trade. — AFP
Ya, it's all Zionist lies.
ReplyDeleteHouthis only attack Israeli-linked ships.
Ships supplying zionist's needs in a land locked tiny nation!
DeleteWumao idiot strikes again.
DeleteBarbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence, sailing with cargo loaded in China, from China port to Saudi Arabia
Stop farting your nauseous poison.. where is your evidence of ANY link to Israel or UK or USA.
Houthis high on Khat day and night, hentam anything that looks like a ship.
Most shipping in the world are registered at either Panama or Liberia for convenience - while True Confidence is operated by the Greece-based organization Third January Maritime, the vessel was previously owned by the Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management
Delete"previously owned by the Los Angeles-based Oaktree Capital Management" ..
Deletewhat a cruel joke.. for that kerbau link to Wankee-land, the Houthis engaged in murderer ?
Wakakakaka…
DeleteWho r the know-nothing dickhead defending the Zionists' fart of surviving?
Given another 6 months, it expansive Zionist state would demand the Yank to do a similar act of Berlin Airlift to save their ass!
A bunch of murderous Houthis high on Khat day and night.
ReplyDeleteOoop… shout that to the Zionists. They r desperate bcoz they r dangerously low in ANY supplies!
Delete