Fatalities reported as Houthi strike claims crew members on commercial vessel in Red Sea, according to US sources
An attack by Houthi militants involving a ballistic missile on a commercial vessel in the Red Sea has led to casualties among the crew members, as confirmed by US officials in a report to CNN. This incident marks a significant escalation in the Houthi's assaults on ships navigating the Red Sea, with casualties reported for the first time.
A commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden was hit by a ballistic missile attack by the Houthi group, resulting in at least two crew members losing their lives, according to two US officials speaking to CNN. This incident marks the first time that the Iran-backed militants have caused fatalities in their ongoing attacks on ships in the Red Sea.
The targeted ship was identified as the M/V True Confidence, a bulk carrier flying the flag of Barbados and owned by Liberia, as confirmed by the officials. Following the attack, the vessel has been abandoned, and coalition warships have been deployed to the area for an assessment of the situation. Additionally, it was reported that six other crew members sustained injuries as a result of the attack.
The attack occurred at around 11:30 am Sana’a time, which is approximately 3:30 a.m. ET, as mentioned by one of the officials. This strike represents a significant escalation of the Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, which began in October as a response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
According to US and western officials, the Houthis have carried out over 45 missile and drone attacks on commercial, US, and coalition Naval vessels in the Red Sea. Fortunately, most of these attacks have been intercepted by US or coalition destroyers, or they have landed harmlessly in the water.
To date, no military vessels have been affected by Houthi UAVs or missiles, as confirmed by Defense Department spokesperson Maj. Pete Nguyen. However, there have been over a dozen incidents involving commercial ships, including several from the US, being targeted since October.
The US and UK have conducted four rounds of strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen since January. These strikes have targeted various facilities such as weapons and missile storage, unmanned aerial systems, air defense systems, radars, and rebel group helicopters.
US Central Command forces have been consistently carrying out targeted strikes on Houthi missiles detected getting ready to be launched from within Yemen.
Despite efforts by the Biden administration to prevent these attacks, the group has been persistently strengthening its arsenal of weapons within Yemen, as reported by CNN.
Multiple officials informed CNN that the US is still unable to determine the extent of Houthi equipment destroyed in airstrikes, and there is uncertainty regarding any potential changes in the US military strategy.
Last week, Deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh stated that the Houthis possess a significant arsenal and receive sophisticated weapons from Iran, as evidenced by their recent attack on a cargo vessel in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles.
One senior defense official expressed astonishment at the actions of the Houthis, stating, "They continue to surprise us. We just don't have a good idea of what they still have."
Despite the strong presence of the US and coalition forces in the Red Sea, which includes the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier and multiple US destroyers, the attacks by the Houthis have significantly reduced the number of ships passing through the Suez Canal.
The Suez Canal connects the Red Sea with the Mediterranean Sea, providing a shortcut for ships to avoid sailing around Africa and save thousands of miles on shipping routes. In February, there was a significant decrease in the number of ships passing through the canal, with a 42% drop in monthly transits and an 82% decrease in container tonnage compared to the peak in 2023, as reported by the United Nations.
