Against the backdrop of Houthi rebels' repeated attacks on merchant ships in the Red Sea, a Greek cargo ship has now been hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen.
A Greek-owned merchant ship flying the Maltese flag was reportedly hit while sailing north through the Red Sea, security firm Ambrey said yesterday.
After the incident, the ship from Israel changed course and headed towards a port, he said. The British Maritime Safety Agency (UKMTO) also reported an “incident” in an area northwest of the Yemeni city of Salif, but did not provide further details. The Houthi rebels said they had hit the cargo ship “Zografia” in anti-ship missile attacks.
Another US attack on Houthi positions in Yemen
According to their own statements, US forces again attacked an Iranian-backed Houthi militia position in Yemen. During the operation, four anti-ship ballistic missiles prepared for launch were destroyed, the responsible regional command of the US military announced on X (Twitter).
The US military also said today that it has seized Iranian missile parts believed to be destined for the Houthi militia in Yemen, off the coast of Somalia.
Houthi rebels have been attacking merchant ships in the Red Sea for three months. As a result, shipping there has been partially halted and many shipping companies are diverting their ships. In response, the US and Britain bombed Houthi militia positions in Yemen from the air for the first time on Friday.
EU diplomats: green light for naval operation
Meanwhile, there was a green light for an EU naval operation to protect ships in the Red Sea: according to diplomats, European Union member states declared their support for the establishment of such a mission in a first phase. The goal is to have it set up by February 19th at the latest. It should then be ready to use quickly.