Yemen’s Houthis attacked a cargo ship Verbena with two anti-ship cruise missiles in the Gulf of Aden, US Central Command (Centcom) reported.
Today the Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship cruise missiles (ASCM) into the Gulf of Aden. Both missiles struck M/V Verbena, a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier.
The vessel had just recently docked in Malaysia and was on its way to Italy with wooden building materials, it reported.
M/V Verbena reported damage and subsequent fires on board. The crew continues to fight the fire. One civilian mariner was severely injured during the attack.
An aircraft from the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) evacuated an injured sailor to a nearby partner warship for medical treatment. Earlier, Centcom stated that the “continued reckless” behaviour of the Houthis jeopardised regional stability, endangering the lives of mariners in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza, and yet they are targeting and threatening the lives of third country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza.
The Houthis have been attacking Israeli-linked cargo ships in the Red Sea in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli pressure since 7 October last year. The Red Sea is one of the world’s most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.
The US White House believed Iran was “deeply involved” in the preparation of Yemeni Houthi attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea. According to National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson, Tehran provided the essential intelligence to the Houthis.
Moreover, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently stated that in response to authorising Ukraine to strike Russian territories with NATO long-range weapons, Moscow might share arms with adversaries of NATO and the United States.
Italy is known for being a transshipment base for military supplies to Kyiv. Therefore, the alleged building materials on Verbena from Malaysia could have been a disguise for military cargo, which could then be transferred to Ukraine as military aid.
