Houthi Claim Attack on Liberian-Flagged MSC SKY

Sanaa, March 4 (GO) – Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a new missile attack against the Liberian-flagged cargo ship MSC SKY, which, according to the British Royal Navy, resulted in damage to the vessel but no injuries among the crew.

The military spokesperson for the rebels, Yahya Sarea, stated in a release that the Houthi “executed an operation against the Israeli ship MSC SKY in the Arabian Sea with several suitable naval missiles,” emphasizing that “the impact was precise and direct.”

Earlier, the British Royal Navy’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) issued an alert reporting two explosions approximately 91 nautical miles (168.5 kilometers) southwest of Aden, Yemen. The first explosion occurred near the vessel, while the second “caused damage to the ship,” according to UKMTO, which noted that the captain reported a fire onboard that the crew is attempting to contain.

The British Navy confirmed that the attack did not result in any casualties or injuries, while the U.S. and UK-led naval coalition forces in the Red Sea are “investigating” the incident.

Significantly, Sarea mentioned that the attack on the MSC SKY occurred hours after the Houthis conducted “a qualitative operation” launching several ballistic missiles and drones against “various enemy U.S. warships in the Red Sea.”

He also declared that the Houthi would continue to prevent the navigation of any vessel linked to Israel or heading to an Israeli port “until the aggression ceases and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted,” a threat the Houthis have maintained since the beginning of their attacks in the Red Sea.

The Houthi began targeting commercial navigation on November 19, but their operations have escalated in recent weeks following their designation as a terrorist group by the United States.

In mid-February, the insurgents attacked the British vessel Rubymar, which this weekend became the first ship to sink due to Houthi attacks.

Moreover, the Houthis have ramped up their threats, with their leader, Abdelmalek al Huti, recently announcing the addition of “underwater weapons” to their operational arsenal and other “surprises” for Washington and London, following a mid-January campaign of bombings against Houthi positions in Yemen.

GO +Agencies