SANAA: Yemen’s Houthis have targeted a cargo ship in the Red Sea, marking the latest in a series of strikes since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The vessel, identified by the Houthis as the Star Iris, was reportedly hit by missiles, causing damage to its starboard side.
In a televised statement, the Houthi group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the targeted ship was American. However, maritime-shipping trackers identified the vessel as Greek-owned and flagged under the Marshall Islands.
Reports from the British maritime security firm Ambrey and the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency confirmed that a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, owned by Greece, had been targeted by missiles while passing through the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
Houthis Attacks on Cargo Ships in Red Sea
The incident marks a continuation of the Houthis’ repeated attacks on international commercial shipping in the Red Sea since mid-November. The group has justified these attacks as a response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza, expressing solidarity with the Palestinian resistance.
The targeted cargo ship sustained damage to its starboard side, prompting concerns among shipping companies and leading to the diversion of routes away from the Red Sea, opting instead for longer and costlier journeys around Africa.
UKMTO reported that the crew of the ship remained unharmed during the attack, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call as scheduled.
