DUBAI: Two cruise missiles launched by Houthi rebels struck a bulk cargo carrier in the Gulf of Aden on Thursday, severely injuring a sailor who was evacuated by American troops, the US military stated. The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since November 2023 in attacks they say are in solidarity with Palestinian people during the current Hamas- Israel war in Gaza. According to AFP, although this has caused major disruption to global shipping, casualties have been rare.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said that the M/V Verbena — a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated vessel — “reported damage and subsequent fires on board. It added that one mariner was wounded during the attack.
CENTCOM said that aircraft from USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) medically evacuated the wounded sailor to a partner force vessel nearby for medical attention. The statement added that this continued reckless behavior by Houthis threatens stability in the region and endangers the lives of mariners in the Red Sea.
The Houthis said they had carried out attacks on three vessels within the past 24 hours, including on the Verbena, “in retaliation to the crimes committed against our people in Gaza, and in response to the US-British aggression against our country.”
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported a blast close to a merchant ship in the Red Sea around 80 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s Hodeida port, with no damage.
The Houthis have launched drone and missile strikes on shipping vessels in the Red Sea since November. On Wednesday, the Houthis also hit the Tutor, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier, southwest of Hodeida and claimed to have used ballistic missiles and seaborne and aerial drones.
CENTCOM later confirmed that the Tutor had been struck by a Houthi “unmanned surface vessel” that “caused severe damage to the engine room.”
