21.08.2024 16:01
A trade ship off the coast of Yemen was hit by three missiles. The British UKMTO agency reported that a fire broke out on the ship and control was lost. The Greek-flagged oil tanker belongs to Delta Tankers company. The attack is seen as part of the sea campaign conducted by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in support of Gaza. Houthi attacks are seriously disrupting maritime trade in the Red Sea. Despite the counterattacks by the US and the UK, the rebels have not been deterred.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, today reported that three missiles hit a merchant ship off the coast of the port city of Hodeidah, which is controlled by Yemeni rebels. The ship caught fire and lost its engine power.
According to the UK Maritime Trade Operations, the ship initially exchanged fire with two small boats. One boat had 3-5 people on board, while the other had about 10 people.
The agency, managed by the British Royal Navy, stated that the ship was later hit by a third missile after being struck by two unidentified missiles.
The agency said, "The ship caught fire and lost its engine power," and added that there were no reported casualties.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations stated that the ship is drifting and cannot be controlled.
A spokesperson for the Greek port authority stated that the ship is a Greek-flagged tanker named Sounion, owned by the Greek shipping company Delta Tankers, and carries petroleum products.
The Greek port authority spokesperson said that the ship, with a crew of mostly Filipino nationals totaling 25 people, had departed from Iraq and was heading to a port near Athens, where several refineries are located.
According to the port authority, no injuries have been reported so far, and it is suggested that the ship may have been hit by missiles or unmanned aerial vehicles.
No one has claimed responsibility for the attack, but this incident occurred as part of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels' campaign to support Gaza, which has been ongoing for nine months and targets international ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
The campaign of rocket and unmanned aerial vehicle attacks by the rebels has significantly disrupted maritime traffic in the Red Sea, which accounts for up to 12% of global trade.
Since January, the US and the UK have responded to Houthi targets in Yemen with attacks, but these attacks have not been very effective in deterring the rebels.