Documentation released by the US military after the attack in Yemen, February 4, 2024/Reuters
The Houthi rebels in Yemen said today (Monday) that they attacked with missiles the cargo ship "Robimar" in the Gulf of Aden, which they claim is now in danger of sinking.
The Houthi spokesman, Yahya Sarie, said that the crew members are safe.
"The ship was badly damaged, so it stopped completely. As a result of the extensive damage caused to the ship, it is now in danger of sinking in the Gulf of Aden," Sarie said.
According to him, the Houthis also shot down an American MQ9 drone in the port city of Hodeidah. The United States military responded to these claims. The
Houthi forces, supported by Iran, have carried out repeated drone and missile attacks against international merchant ships in the Red Sea. And in the Bab al-Mandab strait, a route that accounts for about 12% of global shipping traffic - in what they say is an effort to support the Palestinians in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The attacks caused some companies to stop their Red Sea crossings and take a longer and more expensive route around Africa.
American and British warplanes are carrying out retaliatory strikes throughout Yemen, but these have not been able to completely stop the attacks of the Houthis or deter them.
A demonstration by the Houthis in Sana'a, yesterday/Reuters
According to the British maritime security company Embry, the cargo ship Robimar, registered in Great Britain and operated by Lebanese, was attacked yesterday in the Bab al-Mandab strait off the coast of Yemen.
Embry reported that the ship was on its way north, on its way from the United Arab Emirates to Varna, Bulgaria at the time of the attack.
It deviated from its course, contacted the Djibouti navy and then returned to its previous course and speed, according to the report.
At the same time, the British Maritime Trade Agency reported that crew members abandoned a ship off the coast of Yemen after an explosion damaged it, apparently referring to the same incident, without specifying the name of the ship.
She added that the ship has lifted anchor and all crew members are safe.
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