June 13th 2024.
In the bustling city of Dubai, news of a possible attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels spread like wildfire on Thursday. Reports stated that missiles had struck a ship in the Gulf of Aden, causing a fire to break out on board. This marked yet another assault in the rebels' ongoing campaign over the Israel-Hamas war.
According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center run by the British military, the attack took place off the coast of Yemen. They confirmed that the ship caught fire as a result of the strike. Private security firm Ambrey also reported receiving a distress call from the merchant vessel, stating that it had been hit by a missile.
The ship was en route from Malaysia to Venice, Italy, as per Ambrey's statement. They also mentioned that the ship had been identified as a possible target by the Houthis, although they did not provide any further details. Later in the day, there were reports of a second suspected attack near the port city of Hodeida. However, the UKMTO clarified that the blast occurred away from the vessel and did not cause any damage.
The Houthis, who have been in control of Yemen's capital for almost a decade, have been engaged in a fierce battle with a Saudi-led coalition. In their attempts to stop the war and show solidarity with the Palestinians, the rebels have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor. However, many of these attacks have ended up harming vessels that have no connection to the conflict.
Notably, this attack comes just a day after the Houthis launched a bomb attack on a commercial ship in the Red Sea. The US Maritime Administration has reported that since November, the rebels have carried out more than 50 attacks on ships, resulting in the death of three sailors and the seizure and sinking of two vessels.
Meanwhile, the war in Gaza has resulted in the deaths of over 36,000 Palestinians, with hundreds more killed in Israeli operations in the West Bank. This conflict began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, leading to the death of approximately 1,200 people and the taking of 250 hostages.
In a separate incident, the Washington-based National Democratic Institute revealed that three of their staff members had been detained by the Houthis earlier this month. This comes as a part of a larger crackdown by the rebels, who have also detained staff members of United Nations agencies and humanitarian aid groups. The institute condemned these actions and demanded the immediate release of their staff and all others who have been unjustly detained.
The National Democratic Institute, a democracy promotion organization, has been operating in Yemen since 1993. As tensions continue to rise and attacks on ships persist, the hope for peace and stability in the region remains uncertain.
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