Yemen’s Houthi rebels have reportedly attacked another merchant vessel in a series of coordinated strikes, as reported by the Royal Navy’s UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO). Around 0140 hours GMT, UKMTO received a security alert from an unnamed ship approximately 60 nautical miles off the coast of Hodeidah. The captain reported observing four splashes in the water near the vessel, but there was no damage, and the crew remained safe as the ship continued its journey.
At 0500 GMT, the captain contacted UKMTO again to report that the vessel had been struck by a suicide drone boat, puncturing the No. 6 ballast tank on the port side. Fortunately, no crew members were injured, and the vessel remained operational as it proceeded to its next destination.
Source: Arab Coalition
Since last October, the Houthi movement, supported by Iran, has been targeting international shipping in the Red Sea. Despite a US-led initiative to protect marine traffic in the area, the Houthis have damaged numerous ships and sunk two, resulting in the deaths of four foreign seafarers. The group claims its attacks are aimed at vessels linked to Israel, either through ownership or trading practices, as part of their protest against the ongoing military operations in Gaza.
In a separate development, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the militia had shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone, adding to a series of claimed interceptions over Yemen. The MQ-9 is a key asset for counterterrorism efforts in the Middle East, and Saree stated that the group has now brought down 11 of these unmanned aircraft.
Houthi leaders faced a setback over the weekend when an Israeli airstrike targeted fuel tank farms in Ras Isa and Hodeidah, as well as a nearby power station. The attack resulted in five fatalities and 57 injuries, according to Saree.
