Houthi rebels attacked a Greece-owned vessel in the Red Sea with three anti-ship ballistic missiles and three UAVs on Monday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said.
There have been no reports of injuries among the crew of MV Cyclades, a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel. The attack happened off the coast of Mokha, Yemen, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said.
The ship was damaged in the attack, the UKMTO said, though its crew was safe and heading to its next port of call. The agency urged vessels to exercise caution in the area.
There was “an explosion in close proximity to a merchant vessel,” the UKMTO said. “Vessel and crew are reported safe.”
The vessel with a capacity of 60384 dwt, was built in 2017 and belongs to the Eastern Mediterranean company of Greek shipowner Thanasis Martinou. According to reports, there are no Greeks in the ship’s crew.
April 29 Red Sea Update
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards MV Cyclades, a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel. Initial… pic.twitter.com/r49g6PWO2H
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 30, 2024
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attack on the Cyclades and targeting the U.S. warships in a statement early Tuesday.
In February another Greek-owned ship was targeted by missiles off the coast of Yemen. A Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier was targeted by missiles in two separate incidents within two minutes while transiting through the Bab al-Mandab Strait, it said.
The bulker was reportedly hit and sustained physical damage on the starboard side
Additionally, CENTCOM forces were able to successfully destroy another Houthi UAV that was on a flight path towards USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea. It was also reported that there were no casualties or damages to the merchant vessels from the attack.
Houthi rebels have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping
The Houthis say their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden are aimed at pressuring Israel to end its war against Hamas in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage.
The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Houthi attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat.
American officials have speculated the rebels may be running out of weapons as a result of the US-led campaign against them and after firing drones and missiles steadily for months. However, the rebels have renewed their attacks in the past week. Early Sunday morning, the U.S. military shot down five drones in the air over the Red Sea, its Central Command said.
The drones “presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels in the region,” Central Command said in a statement.
Related: Dramatic Video Surfaces of Houthi Strike on Greek Ship in Red Sea
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