Amid the tumultuous waters of the Gulf of Aden, an event of undeniable gravity has unfolded, carrying in its wake the shadow of the conflicts that are shaking the region. Two missiles, likely launched by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, targeted a Liberian-flagged cargo ship on Friday night. Fortunately, the projectiles landed near the ship without causing significant damage, according to authorities on the ground.
The attack follows repeated acts of violence perpetrated by the Houthis against a Greek-flagged oil tanker anchored in the Red Sea nearby. The rebels planted explosives on the ship and detonated them, marking the culmination of a series of attacks that are disrupting the vital flow of more than $1 trillion worth of goods that cross the Red Sea each year. This situation is affecting the delivery of humanitarian aid to regions plagued by devastating conflicts such as Sudan and Yemen.
According to the UK Maritime Operations Centre, the two missiles exploded near the ship, which was located about 150 miles east of Aden. The ship reported that all crew were safe and heading to its next port of call, while investigations into who was responsible for the attack were ongoing.
The Joint Maritime Information Centre, a multinational entity overseen by the US Navy, identified the targeted vessel as the Groton, a Liberian-flagged cargo ship. The Groton was previously attacked on August 3 in a similar attack, when two missiles were fired at the ship, causing minor damage.
The centre’s report said the ship was targeted because of the presence of other ships linked to it that had recently made port calls in Israel.
The Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility for Friday’s attack. However, it is not uncommon for rebels to take hours or even days to acknowledge their actions.
Since the Gaza conflict began in October, the Houthis have targeted more than 80 ships with missiles and drones. They have seized one ship and sunk two others in the campaign, which has also claimed the lives of four sailors. Many of the ships have been intercepted by a US-led coalition in the Red Sea or have failed to reach their target.
The rebels claim they are targeting ships with ties to Israel, the US or the UK to end Israel’s campaign against Hamas in Gaza. However, many of the ships attacked have little or no connection to the conflict in question, with some bound for Iran.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military’s Central Command announced Saturday that it had destroyed two drones over Houthi-held territory in Yemen. Escalating tensions and the ramifications of these attacks continue to fuel uncertainty in an already stressed region. Monitoring and securing sea lanes remain critical issues as regional and international actors seek ways to ensure security and stability in these troubled Middle Eastern waters.