A ship was damaged when it was targeted twice with multiple missiles yesterday off the coast of Yemen, in the latest attack on international shipping in the Red Sea claimed by Houthi rebels. The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations Security Agency (UKMTO) said the attack occurred south-west of the Yemeni port of Mokha. In the first attack, “an explosion occurred near the ship which was felt by the crew on board”, Ukmto said. “The second attack on the vessel consisted of what is believed to be two missiles, which caused damage,” the agency added.
Hours earlier, the British maritime security company Ambrey had also reported an attack off the port of Mokha: “Three missiles were sighted” in that incident. «A Panama-flagged oil tanker was the closest vessel to these. The tanker was previously owned by the UK, but ownership changed in November 2023,” according to Ambrey. Currently, we read, the ship is registered in the Seychelles and “was traveling from Primorsk, Russia, to Vadinar, India”.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree later claimed responsibility for the attack in a post on appropriate naval forces, and the ship took a direct hit.” US Central Command (Centcom) also confirmed the attack on the Andromeda Star, as well as another ship, the MV Maisha. The Houthis, Centcom wrote on «The MV Andromeda Star reports minor damage, but she is continuing her journey», the rest of the words, specifying that no injuries were reported. The latest incidents follow a lull in attacks by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis, who have launched dozens of missile and drone strikes against shipping since November. The Houthis have claimed to be acting in solidarity with the Palestinians in the context of the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
