from thefreeonline on 31st Dec 2023 by HomeWorld News

The attack targeted a Singapore-flagged vessel owned and operated by Denmark, US Central Command has claimed

Container ship hit by Houthi missile

A commercial ship was struck by a Houthi missile fired from Yemen as it passed through the Southern Red Sea on Saturday, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) has said. It added that two more missiles were shot down by an American destroyer patrolling the area.

FILE PHOTO: A cargo ship crosses the Suez Canal in Ismailia, Egypt, on December 29, 2023

The Ansar Allah Houthi movement’s political bureau last week denounced the US-led maritime coalition, saying it is “an integral part of the aggression against the Palestinian people, Gaza and the Arab and Islamic nation.”

They also accused it of seeking to “militarize the Red Sea for the benefit of the Israeli entity,” according to the Yemeni news agency Saba.

The Singapore-flagged containership Maersk Hangzhou, owned and operated by Denmark, signaled at 8:30pm local time that it had been attacked and requested assistance, CENTCOM said on X (formerly Twitter). According to the statement, the vessel remains seaworthy and no injuries have been reported among the crew.

Saturday’s strike came a day after Denmark announced it would contribute to the US-led OPG, sending a frigate next month.

Warships USS Graverly and USS Laboon responded to the call for help, with the former shooting down two ballistic missiles “fired from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen toward the ships,” the statement said.

Danish shipping giant AP Moller-Maersk announced in mid-December that it was suspending all cargo shipments through the Red Sea due to attacks targeting commercial vessels in the region.

However, last week the company said it planned to resume shipping, linking the move to the US-led Operation Prosperity Guardian (OPG), which was set up to ensure safe passage.

An international naval operation to secure trade in the area was announced by Washington last week, as Houthi attacks have forced major shipping companies to seek alternative routes, disrupting global supply chains. The Red Sea is the entry point for vessels using the Suez Canal, which handles about 12% of global trade.

The Houthi revolutionary resistance, who control most of Yemen’s territory, said they would attack Israeli-linked ships in response to the Israeli bombing and ground invasion of Gaza. Twenty-three ships have been attacked or seized in the Red Sea since November 19, according to CENTCOM.

US allies waver on joining Red Sea task force – Reuters

see also  *********

Israeli connected Cargo Ship In Red Sea Catches Fire After new Attack From Yemen blocking Genocide supplies

from thefreeonkine on 15.12.2023-221 views by South Front

A cargo ship caught fire in the Red Sea on December 15 after being hit by a projectile from Yemen, say US and Ambrey

The news agency identified the ship as the Liberian-flagged Al Jasrah. This was confirmed by the private intelligence firm Ambrey, which also reported the attack.

“The projectile reportedly hit the port side of the vessel and one container fell overboard due to the impact,” Ambrey said. “The projectile caused a ‘fire on deck’ which was broadcast via” radio.

The Al Jasrah is operated by the German-based Hapag Lloyd. Ambrey noted that the shipping company “is known to have offices in the Israeli ports of Ashdod, Haifa and Tel Aviv.”

Ansar Allah demonstrates military in North Yemen

The attack on the ship was most likely carried out by the Houthis (Ansar Allah), who are a part of the so-called Axis of Resistance that is backed by Iran and opposes Israel.

Two ballistic missiles were fired in a second attack, one of which struck a vessel, causing a fire, which the crew was working to extinguish, the US official said.

The Associated Press news agency identified the vessel struck in the second attack as the Liberian-flagged MSC Palatium III.

The group has fired several missiles and drones at the southernmost Israeli city of Eilat since the beginning of the Israeli war on the Palestinian Gaza Strip. It has also assaulted a number of Israeli-owned ships and announced a blockade on all ships heading to Israel.

Danish shipping company Maersk said on Friday it was suspending its vessels’ passage through the key Bab al-Mandeb Strait, and the German container shipping line Hapag-Lloyd said it would pause journeys in the Red Sea until Monday.

Ansar Allah Attacked, Captured Container Ships Close To Bab El-Mandeb Strait

Just day earlier, the Houthis said that they struck the Maersk Gibraltar, a Hong Kong-flagged cargo container vessel, near the strategic Bab el-Mandeb Strait with a suicide drone.

This was however denied by both the ship owner, Danish shipping company Maersk, and the United States Central Command, which said in a statement that the vessel was in fact targeted with a ballistic missile.

“We will continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports until the food and medicine our people need in the Gaza Strip is brought in,”

Yemen’s Ansarallah to boycott US, Israeli goods-The Sanaa government has also decided to ban all US-made goods and those produced by international companies that support Israel’s occupation of Palestine.  .

The Houthis recent attacks forced ships heading to Israel from Asia to take a route that circles Africa, making the journey three weeks longer and more expensive.In addition, the arrival of commercial ships to the port of Eilat has almost completely stopped.

The U.S. has reportedly warned the Houthis from continuing their attacks and is preparing to announce a special upgraded multinational task force in the Red Sea.

The Prime Minister of Yemen’s National Salvation Government (NSG), Abdulaziz bin Habtour, said on 10 November that Sanaa will continue to conduct attacks on Israel for as long as the ethnic cleansing campaign of Gaza continues.

Alanya and Palatium III both listed Jeddah in Saudi Arabia as their destination, according to data from ship tracking and maritime analytics provider MarineTraffic.

“We will continue to prevent all ships heading to Israeli ports until the food and medicine our people need in the Gaza Strip is brought in,” the AnsarAllah statement said.

No casualties reported from strike on Strinda tanker as it passed through strategic Bab al-Mandeb Strait.

“We assure all ships heading to all ports of the world apart from Israeli ports that they will suffer no harm and they must keep their identification device on,” it said.

The Ansar Allah movement, called Houthis in the West after their leader, at present have forced a Ceasefire with US backed Saudi colonial forces, who still seek to have their proxies returned to control all Yemen, despite failing in the long horrific war. With US backing the Saudis obtained recognition of their occupiers and proxies as still the legally recognised government of Yemen.

AnsarAllah have long had a growing expertise in building long range drones, always blamed by the West on Iranian aid. The Houthis are mainly a local branch of Shiite muslims who are also severely repressed in Saudi Arabia which is ruled by a Sunni clan.

MORE ON THIS TOPIC:

• WFP suspends food distribution in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.. December 2023.. UN agency pauses general food distribution in north Yemen due to limited funding and disagreements with the group.
• Gaza War Sparks Conflict In Red Sea
• US shoots down ‘aerial vehicle’ launched from Yemen’s Houthi-held area
• Yemen’s Houthis claim missile attack on Norwegian ship
• Yemen’s Houthis warn they will target all Israel-bound ships in Red Sea..Rebels warn to block passage of Israel-bound ships of any nationality unless Gaza gets the food and medicines

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