Houthis strike again: Attacks on commercial ships escalate
U.S. Central Command reported damage to the Greek bulk carrier Transworld Navigator in the Red Sea. This was the result of the latest attack by Yemeni Houthi rebels. The tanker Stolt Sequoia was also attacked in the Indian Ocean.
6:17 AM EDT, June 24, 2024
Yemeni Houthi rebels attacked two ships again. Representatives of the movement admitted to conducting operations in the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, according to Kommersant.
According to an official statement published by the television channel Al Masirah, the Houthis attacked the bulk carrier Transworld Navigator operating in the Red Sea and the tanker Stolt Sequoia sailing through the Indian Ocean.
The Greek bulk carrier Transworld Navigator, sailing under the Liberian flag, sustained "moderate damage," – reported U.S. Central Command on the social media platform X. The crew reported minor injuries to American soldiers. The ship is still moving.
According to the Houthis, their attacks were also aimed at forcing the U.S. aircraft carrier Eisenhower to withdraw from the Red Sea, as reported by Kommersant. They reported hitting the aircraft carrier three times. However, the U.S. military denies that the carrier was damaged.
Houthis threaten trade
Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden since November last year in solidarity with Palestinians fighting the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip.
The escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict followed an attack by militants of the terrorist organization Hamas on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people and the abduction of more than 250 as hostages. According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, Israel's retaliatory operation in the Gaza Strip has resulted in the deaths of over 37,000 Palestinians.
