Red Sea: Houthis strike two commercial vessels

Iran-aligned Houthi armed group launched missiles towards the Red Sea yesterday, striking two commercial vessels near Yemen’s Hodeidah port, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported.

PHOTO: A cargo ship at sea. Getty Images

The Yemen-based militant group struck M/T Cordelia Moon, a Panama-flagged oil tanker, about 64 nautical miles (NM) northwest of Hodeidah port, the UKMTO reported. The tanker was hit by an Uncrewed Surface Vessel (USV), it added.

The vessel is currently proceeding to its next port of call, it added.

Houthi forces also struck Minoan Courage, a Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, about 97 NM northwest of Hodeidah port, the UKMTO said. The vessel, struck by a missile, has sustained damages, UKMTO added.

The Yemeni militia’s spokesperson Yahya Sare’e has claimed responsibility for the attack on M/T Cordelia Moon.

Last week, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) struck specific targets of Houthis in Yemen. The targets included power plants, and a seaport used by the group to transfer Iranian weapons and crude oil.

Houthis have used USVs and missiles to attack commercial vessels transiting the Red Sea. These repeated attacks on commercial vessels have heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and raised safety concerns in the global shipping industry.

By Aparupa Mazumder

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