2024-01-25 01:37:21
Shipping company Maersk reported that two of its ships had to turn around in the Bab al-Mandab Strait in the Red Sea. The maneuver was carried out due to explosions near the place where the vessels were traveling. The ships transported military supplies and were accompanied by the United States Navy.
According to a company statement, North American warships that were escorting them intercepted several projectiles. As a result, the vessels’ journey along the route was suspended.
Houthi missiles intercepted by the US Navy
Houthi group spokesman Yahya Sarea declared that the terrorists fired ballistic missiles at “several US warships protecting two US commercial vessels”.
He commented that the “confrontation” lasted more than two hours, with one of the military ships taking a direct hit and the two commercial vessels having “to withdraw and return”.
+ See: Houthis attack US ship off the coast of Yemen
“Several of our ballistic missiles have reached their targets despite attempts by warships to intercept them,” he said.
The US Central Command (Centcom, its acronym in English) declared that the Houthis fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles. There were no reports of injuries or damage to ships.
After the attack, commercial vessels that were accompanied by US warships turned around and suspended the route | Photo: Riley Gasdia/US Navy
Insecurity
In an interview with Reuters news agency, the secretary general of the International Transport Workers’ Federation, the main seafarers’ union, Stephen Cotton, said that “there is a feeling of vulnerability” due to the terrorist group’s constant attacks in the Red Sea.
+ Read the latest news about the World on the Oeste website
According to him, vessel captains are much more at ease going around Africa than sailing in the region.
US maritime labor organizations have been concerned about attacks on US-flagged vessels. Nine industry unions called the attacks “the most significant on the United States Merchant Marine in more than half a century.”
+ Read also: Command confirms death of US soldiers who disappeared during operation against the Houthis
#Navy #intercepts #Houthi #missiles #Red #Sea