New Houthi attack on a ship in the red sea… Fire and container fall
The British maritime security company “Ambrey” stated on Friday that a container ship flying the flag of Liberia, owned by Hapag-Lloyd AG, suffered damage due to an “aerial attack” 50 nautical miles north of the Yemeni port of Mokha.
Ambrey added, in an advisory note, that the ship was moving south through the Bab el Mandeb Strait when it was hit by a projectile that caused a fire on its deck and the fall of a container into the sea.
French news agency AFP quoted an unnamed official in the U.S. Department of Defense as saying, “We are aware that something launched from an area controlled by the Houthis in Yemen hit this vessel, which was damaged. Information has been received about a fire breaking out.”
British investigation
On its part, the British Maritime Trade Operations organization stated on Friday that it is investigating a report of an incident in the Bab el Mandeb vicinity, 30 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni port of Mokha.
The organization had previously reported two other incidents, one southwest of the Yemeni port of Hodeidah and the other north of Mokha. It advised ships to navigate with caution and report any suspicious activity.
Repeated attacks
Houthi militias have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea, prompting U.S. ships to shoot down drones and missiles belonging to the rebels in some cases.
The attacks led the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, General Patrick Ryder, to affirm that Washington is “moving towards forming a maritime force and is consulting with allies and partners around the world to establish this force,” which would mitigate the threat of Houthi militia attacks in the Red Sea.
