DUBAI (AFP) – Yemen’s Huthi rebels struck a cargo ship in the Red Sea yesterday, causing a fire on deck in the latest of a near-daily series of attacks in the commercially vital waterway.
The Huthis, who control much of Yemen but are not recognised internationally, said they’re targeting shipping to pressure Israel during its two-month-old war with Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
“We are aware that something launched from a Huthi-controlled region of Yemen struck this vessel which was damaged, and there was a report of a fire,” the United States (US) defence official told AFP.
The US defence official identified the ship as the Liberia-flagged Al-Jasrah, a 370-metre container ship built in 2016.
Private intelligence firm Ambrey said the vessel, owned by German transport company Hapag-Lloyd, “sustained physical damage from an aerial attack” north of the Yemeni coastal city of Mokha.
“The projectile reportedly hit the port side of the vessel and one container fell overboard due to the impact. The projectile caused a fire on deck” that was reported over radio, Ambrey said.
The rebels have said they will target any ships travelling to Israel irrespective of their nationality, and are now launching near-daily attacks.
A Hapag-Lloyd spokesman told AFP: “There has been an attack on one of our ships.”
The attack occurred near Bab al-Mandab, the narrow strait between Yemen and northeast Africa through which much of global commerce flows.
Some 40 per cent of international trade passes through the area, which leads to the Red Sea, Israel’s southern port facilities, and the Suez Canal. Insurance costs for ships transiting the area have jumped in recent days, amounting to increases in the tens of thousands of dollars for larger ships like oil tankers, reports said.
While warships passing through the Red Sea are well equipped and can retaliate, commercial vessels do not have the same protections.
Crews under fire by heavy weapons typically abandon the bridge and control their vessels remotely from an armoured citadel.
The rebels have tried to hijack and capture several ships, succeeding at least once in November. They typically order them to surrender and head to a Yemeni port, and open fire if they do not comply.
US, French and British warships are patrolling the area and have shot several missiles out of the sky.
