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Two Greek shipping sources reported on Wednesday that a “Liberian-flagged ship sustained damage due to what appears to be a deliberate attack,” according to the British news agency Reuters, adding that “water has leaked into the engine room.”
The maritime news site TradeWinds stated that the cargo ship “Evalend Tutor” requires assistance after being struck by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, adding that “the ship’s engine was targeted twice from the sea and the air.”
It is believed that the ship, which sustained significant damage and water leakage into its engine room “after a double strike by the Houthis in the Red Sea on Wednesday,” may need to be towed.
Earlier today, the British Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) announced that a commercial vessel issued a distress call after being “attacked in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen.”
The UKMTO statement noted that “the ship was hit approximately 66 nautical miles southwest of Hodeidah port,” and that “the rear of the ship collided with a small boat (5-7 meters in length, white in color),” without providing further details.
It added that “authorities are investigating the incident” and advised ships to “navigate cautiously and report any suspicious activity.”
No party immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, which coincides with a campaign by the Sana’a government forces against ships linked to Israel, Britain, and the United States.
Since late last year, the Sana’a government forces have been targeting Israeli objectives in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israeli-associated ships in the Red and Arabian Seas. They recently announced the extension of their operations to parts of the Indian Ocean and the beginning of the fourth phase of escalation against ships “up to the Mediterranean” to support Palestinians in Gaza. They assert that their operations against “Israel” will continue, conditioning the cessation of their military actions “in support of Gaza” on ending the aggression and lifting the blockade on Gaza.
In response, the United States and Britain launched airstrikes on Yemen, prompting the Sana’a government forces to declare that their operations would include targeting U.S. and British commercial and military ships in response to what they termed the “American-British aggression.”
On February 19, 2024, the European Union announced the launch of a military operation named “Aspis” led by Italy in the Red Sea, while the United States announced the launch of an operation named “Guardian of Prosperity,” both aiming to counter the attacks carried out by the Sana’a government forces against “Israel.”
Source: RT
