Houthis Attack Three More Ships In Gulf Of Aden, Red Sea

Illustrative image.

The Houthis (Ansar Allah) announced on June 13 that they had attacked three more merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea in response to the Israeli war on the Palestinian enclave of the Gaza Strip and recent American-British strikes on Yemen.

“The naval and missile forces and the air force carried out three military operations in the last 24 hours,” the group’s military spokesperson, Brigade General Yahya Saree, said in a statement.

According to the spokesman, the first operation was carried out by missile forces targeting the ship Verbena in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire onboard.

The second and third operations targeted the Seaguardian and Athina in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles and drones, he added.

In a follow up statement, the spokesman noted that the three ships were targeted because they are owned by companies that “violated the [Houthis’] decision to ban entry to the ports of occupied Palestine [Israel]”.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), a detachment of the Royal Navy, reported that Verbena, a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier, was struck three times on June 13 before the Houthis annonce their operations.

Later, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said in two separate statements that the vessel was first struck with two anti-ship cruise missiles, then with an anti-ship ballistic missile.

“M/V Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues to fight the fire. One civilian mariner was severely injured during the attack,” the command said in its first statement, which was released late on June 13.”Aircraft from USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) medically evacuated the injured mariner to a partner force ship nearby for medical attention.”

In its second statement, which was released early on June 14, the command said its forces destroyed an air defense sensor in a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen as well as an uncrewed surface vessel and a drone of the group in the Red Sea.

The Houthis also launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Red Sea, according to the command, which said that there were no injuries or significant damage reported by U.S., coalition, or merchant vessels.

“This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the command said. “CENTCOM will continue to act with partners to hold the Houthis accountable and degrade their military capabilities.”

The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have attacked dozens of vessels affiliated with Israel or owned by the United States and the UK in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea since November in response to the Israeli war on Gaza.

In addition, the group launched dozens of drones and missiles at the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat and shot down six American-made combat drones over Yemen and nearby waters.

Since January, U.S. and the UK have carried out hundreds of strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen in an attempt to deter the group, but to no avail.

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