DUBAI/CAIRO: Missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthi militants struck the Palau-flagged Verbena cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, sparking a fire and severely injuring one of her crew, U.S. Central Command announced on Thursday.
Three missiles struck the Verbena Thursday, sparking a fire and damaging the ship, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said.
While her crew fought the fire, an aircraft from the U.S. Navy’s Philippine Sea warship medically evacuated the injured mariner to a partner force ship nearby for medical attention, U.S. Central Command said.
The Iran-allied Houthis have launched dozens of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea region since November in solidarity with the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas.
Thursday’s attack marked their second direct hit on a merchant ship in two days, and the group said its campaign would continue until hostilities in the Gaza Strip end.
“Operations will not stop unless the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted,” the Houthis said on Thursday.
The Houthi campaign in the Red Sea region has disrupted global shipping, cascading delays and costs through supply chains. The militants have sunk one ship, seized another vessel and killed three seafarers in separate attacks.
The Ukrainian cargo ship "VERBENA" was hit off the coast of Yemen.
The ship was hit at least twice, according to Houthi statements and monitoring channels.
Fun fact: the ship is registered in Mariupol in the Donbass, now a Russian city.
Donbasstranzitservice LLC (DTS) is a… pic.twitter.com/PvfbkzTeos
— S p r i n t e r F a m i l y (@SprinterFamily) June 13, 2024
The Verbena, loaded with wood construction material, was sailing to Italy at the time of the attack, CENTCOM said. Security and military sources said the Verbena still has power and steering capabilities.
A day earlier, Yemen’s Houthi militants took responsibility for small watercraft and missile attacks that left the Tutor, a Greek-owned cargo ship, taking in water and in need of rescue near Yemen’s Red Sea port of Hodeidah.
The Philippines’ Department of Foreign Affairs condemned the assault on the Tutor, which had Filipino crew on board.
Some media outlets have reported that one person died as a result of the attack on the Tutor. Greek shipping authorities said they had no confirmation of that.
(REUTERS)
