Image Credits - Libertarian Institute
Escalating tensions in the volatile waters of the Red Sea, Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels on Friday claimed to have targeted two vessels with drone and missile attacks, though independent confirmation of the alleged strikes remained elusive.
In a televised speech, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree asserted that the group had targeted the Elbella and AAL GENOA vessels with several drones and ballistic and naval missiles. However, Saree did not specify the date on which the purported attacks were carried out.
Reuters, a leading international news agency, reported that it had not received any accounts of incidents involving vessels in the Red Sea on Friday, casting doubt on the timing and veracity of the Houthi claims.
Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, the manager of the Malta-flagged Elbella container ship, declined to comment on the alleged attack. Attempts by Reuters to reach the owner or manager of the Cyprus-flagged AAL Genoa general cargo vessel were unsuccessful.
Amidst the conflicting narratives, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) acknowledged that the Houthis had launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles over the Red Sea in the past 24 hours. However, CENTCOM stated that there were no reported injuries or damage resulting from the missile attacks.
The Red Sea, a crucial maritime chokepoint, has been a longstanding flashpoint in the broader conflict between the Houthis and a Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen’s internationally recognized government.
The Houthis have repeatedly targeted civilian and military vessels in the region, while the Saudi-led coalition has enforced a naval blockade to prevent the alleged smuggling of weapons to the rebels from Iran, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
Claims by the Houthis, coupled with CENTCOM’s acknowledgement of missile launches, have reignited concerns over the potential for escalation in the strategic waterway, which serves as a vital passage for global trade and energy supplies.
As details surrounding the alleged attacks remain murky, the international community is closely monitoring the situation, wary of any further disruptions to maritime traffic or escalations that could imperil the fragile efforts to broker a lasting peace in Yemen’s years-long civil war.