The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said on Tuesday that one of two anti-ship ballistic missiles fired by Yemen’s Houthis at the container vessel M/V MSC SKY II in the Gulf of Aden hit the ship and caused “damage”.
A military spokesperson for the Iran-aligned Houthis said on Monday that they targeted the vessel with “a number of suitable naval missiles”. Houthis are targeting Red Sea shipping lanes in support of Palestinians in the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
March 4 Red Sea Update
On Mar. 4, at approximately 2:15a.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the southern Red Sea. The missile impacted the water with no reported damage or injuries to commercial or U.S. Navy… pic.twitter.com/mqigHoON4b
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 5, 2024
‘Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired an anti-ship ballistic missile from Yemen into the southern Red Sea. The missile impacted the water with no reported damage or injuries to commercial or U.S. Navy ships,” CENTCOM said on X.
Between the hours of 3:50p.m. and 4:15p.m. (Sanaa time), Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Yemen into the Gulf of Aden at M/V MSC SKY II, a Liberian-flagged, Swiss-owned container vessel. One of the missiles impacted the vessel causing damage. Initial reports indicate there were no injuries; the ship did not request assistance and continued on its way,’ it said, adding that CENTCOM forces conducted self-defense strikes against two anti-ship cruise missiles that presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for merchant and U.S. Navy vessels.
Houthi Telecommunications Minister Misfer Al-Numair said on Monday that ships will have to obtain a permit from Yemen’s Houthi-controlled Maritime Affairs Authority before entering Yemeni waters.
Houthi rebels have been launching frequent drone and missile attacks on international shipping in the Gulf of Aden since mid-November, claiming solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s actions in Gaza. These attacks have led to costly diversions around southern Africa for shipping firms and raised concerns about wider destabilization in the Middle East. In response, the United States and Britain have carried out airstrikes on Houthi targets.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement, as reported by Al Masirah TV, expressed willingness to assist in ensuring the safety of ships by providing permits and identifying them with the Yemeni Navy. The affected territorial waters extend halfway into the Bab Al-Mandab Strait, a crucial passage for around 15 percent of global shipping traffic transiting to or from the Suez Canal.
The ongoing conflict in the region has underscored a significant vulnerability in global internet infrastructure: the Red Sea. This area serves as a critical hub for internet traffic between Europe and East Asia, with undersea cables converging at the southern end of the Red Sea. However, the busy maritime traffic in this area poses risks to telecom infrastructure, including the potential for accidental anchor drops damaging cables. Attacks by Houthi rebels have further heightened these risks.
Additionally, there is ongoing consideration of utilizing a sea-land route through the Middle East for trade between India and Europe. However, this alternative presents its own challenges, such as the need to unload containers at Dammam before proceeding overland to Europe. This adds complexity and potential risks to the supply chain.
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