More Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, Yemeni authorities say. SANAA, Yemen’s Houthi rebels are reporting that they have launched a drone attack targeting two cargo ships in the Red Sea, the latest in a series of attacks that have disrupted the shipping industry as shipping lines are trying to avoid the area due to the attacks.
According to a spokesperson for the Houthis, Yahya Sarea, the vessels attacked are the Norwegian-owned Swan Atlantic and the MSC Clara, and the attacks were launched after the crews of both ships failed to respond to the trio’s calls for assistance.
Despite the fact that the Swan Atlantic owner reported the ship had been hit by an unknown object, none of the crew members were injured in the incident.
Based on the data provided by the London Stock Exchange Group, the MSC Clara is registered under the Panamanian flag. The details of what happened to the vessel and how it came under attack were not immediately known.
In recent weeks, the Houthis, which are backed by Iran, have attacked several vessels in the Red Sea, alleging they are targeting ships that have ties to Israel and that they are protesting against the Israeli military offensive against Gaza. Various groups have warned sailors not to approach the area after the group issued a warning.
As a result of these attacks, there are concerns about how the attacks will affect the passage of oil, grain and other goods on what is one of the most important global trade routes, and they have considerably pushed up the cost of shipping goods through the Red Sea as well as the cost of insuring them.
There was a problem with the water tank
According to Oystein Elgan, chief executive of owner Inventor Chemical Tankers, all of Swan Atlantic’s systems are operating normally, despite damage to the water tank sustained during the attack, he said.
Chemical Tankers, the company that invented the product, does not have any Israeli ties, Elgan said.
A small fire was caused by the incident, which was brought under control by the crew of the vessel operated by Uni-Tankers, and the vessel, loaded with vegetable oils, continued its journey to Reunion Island after the incident.
According to reports received by the British maritime authority, a vessel that was attacked 24 nautical miles (44km) northwest of Yemen’s al-Makha (Mocha) port had been reported to have been involved in an explosion on its port side.
According to an advisory issued by the company, both the vessel and crew are safe. As reported by a United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) advisory, the incident described in the advisory resembled the attack on the Swan Atlantic, which occurred in 2011.
As reported by the UKMTO in a separate advisory, the organisation was made aware of a report of a vessel being approached by a boat with several armed people aboard 24 nautical miles southeast of al-Makha.
The vessel fired warning shots as a means of warning, and the craft as well as the crew members on board changed course as a result, according to the advisory.
According to other advisories released by the UKMTO, it had received reports that an incident had occurred 63 nautical miles (117km) northwest of Djibouti and another incident had taken place near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, 30 nautical miles (56km) south of al-Makha.
Impact on the economy
Houthi militants, who rule much of Yemen, have pledged that they will continue to carry out attacks against Israeli targets until the assault on Gaza is halted by Israel. As an initial sign of possible moderation, the group offered some encouragement on Saturday by saying that real steps will contribute to reduce the escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza if real steps are taken to ease it.
There is a risk of the global economy being disrupted by the threat. The attacks on the Red Sea have prompted a number of shipping companies to announce that all voyages along the Red Sea will be suspended.
In the Yemen-North Africa Strait, about 40% of the world’s international trade passing through it, which connects the Red Sea, Israel’s southern port facilities, and the Suez Canal, passes through the narrow strait between Yemen and northeast Africa.
There has been a significant increase in the risk of shipping insurance costs as a result of the increased threat, resulting in oil prices rising significantly.
A major oil company, BP, has temporarily halted all transits through the Red Sea citing security concerns. If ships are attempting to avoid the Suez Canal, an alternative route is to travel around Africa instead, which is a much longer trip.
It was announced last week that the United States was in negotiations with other countries to set up a task force that will be responsible for protecting the trade route. Earlier this week, an Italian source said the country is considering joining a naval coalition that will patrol the Red Sea as part of its defense strategy.
That news provided by timenews.
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