The recent sinking of the bulk carrier by Houthis and the killing of a sailor onboard marks a new escalation by the Iran-backed group in their campaign of attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
Second In Line
This was the second vessel sunk by the Houthis, and the attack came after a month-long U.S. campaign, which saw the Navy embroiled in the most intense maritime combat since World War II, with almost daily attacks on commercial shipping in the vital maritime corridor.
Maritime debris and oil were also seen in its last reported location, per UKMTO. Houthis also released footage which showed how they attacked the ship, using two bomb-carrying drone boats to strike it from its side and stern. The attack also led to the death of a crew member from the Philippines. Houthis have launched over 60 attacks to target ships in the Red Sea and used missiles and drones extensively. They also seized and sunk two ships since November 2023. The U.S. launched a campaign against Houthi bases in Yemen.
Houthis said they would attack ships linked to Israel, the U.S. or the U.K. However, many vessels they targeted had no connections to these nations nor the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, which has killed and displaced millions of people.
The Shipping Industry issued a joint statement stating that it is deplorable that seafarers are attacked while doing their job, which keeps the world warm, fed, and clothed. It said that this situation has become unacceptable, and the attacks must stop.
Container Shipping Reduced
Container Shipping through the Red Sea has been reduced by a staggering 90% due to these attacks, per a report by the US Defense Intelligence Agency.
However, recently, Houthis said that U.S. airstrikes targeted a province called Raymah in Yemen, controlled by the Group.
The Houthi-controlled SABA news agency said that a radio station building was destroyed in the attack. A week later, Houthis said that strikes killed two and injured nine people.
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Source: MarineInsight
