Status: 15.01.2024, 16:11 PM
By: Bona Hyun
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The chain of attacks in the Red Sea does not stop. Now a British naval unit reports the shelling of a US freighter off the Yemen coast.
Yemen – Another incident in the Red Sea: On Monday (15 January), a US ship was shot at by a missile off the Yemeni coast in the Gulf of Aden. The UK's UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reports an "incident" southeast of the port city of Aden in Yemen. Suspicion immediately fell on the Houthi militia in Yemen.
Apparently, a U.S. freighter off Yemen was hit by a missile. © Mc2 Keith Nowak/U.S. Navy/imago
U.S. ship hit by missiles off Yemen – are Houthis behind it?
Authorities are investigating the incident and advising vessels in transit to exercise "extreme caution." According to UKMTO, the ship's captain said the ship was "hit from above by a missile." According to Sky News, the ship hit is a US bulk carrier. The rocket had caused a fire in the ship's hold, but the ship was still seaworthy. There were no casualties. It is still unclear who is responsible for this.
Escalation in the Red Sea? Houthis apparently attack US ship after airstrikes
Suspicion immediately fell on the Houthi rebels. The day before, they had fired an anti-ship cruise missile at a destroyer of the US Navy in the Red Sea. But a U.S. fighter jet managed to intercept the missile. The attack is the first U.S.-confirmed shelling by the Houthi rebels after weeks of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea.
The latest attack by the Houthis could be a response to the air strikes by the Western allies on the Houthi positions. The U.S. and allies began attacks on nearly 12 militia positions in Yemen, including a radar facility, on Friday (Jan. 30). US President Joe Biden warned last week that the Houthis would have to brace themselves for further possible military action if they did not back down. The U.S. is supported by the U.K., the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, and Bahrain.