AnyTV News Yemen's Houthis again carried out a major attack in the Gulf of Aden, the ship was flying the Singapore flag

Image Source : REUTERS
Yemen’s Houthis attacked in the Gulf of Aden (symbolic)

Singapore: Yemen’s Houthis continue to launch attacks in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. This time Houthi rebels have allegedly targeted a Singapore-flagged ship, damaging it. Singapore’s Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) gave this information in a statement on Friday. MPA said that it received information that the container ship ‘Lobivia’ was attacked while passing through the Gulf of Aden, causing it to catch fire. It said that however the crew extinguished the fire.

Channel News Asia quoted officials as saying that no Singaporean was aboard the crew and all personnel on board the ship were safe. They said that despite the attack by Houthi rebels, the ship managed to reach Somalia’s Berbera port where damage assessment and repairs will be carried out if needed. The MPA said it is in touch with the ship’s manager to provide any necessary assistance. Singapore’s navy has also alerted its security partners in the Gulf of Aden to provide assistance.

Houthis admit to ballistic missile attack

A military spokesman for the Houthi rebels said on television that the group attacked the Lobiwiya with ballistic missiles and drones. Britain’s maritime trade operations body said the ship was hit twice by two missiles about 83 nautical miles southeast of the Yemeni port city of Aden. “The ship was heading north-east through the Gulf of Aden when a nearby merchant vessel observed “lights and explosions” in the area where the Lobiwiya was located,” Channel News Asia quoted British security firm Embrey as saying. Embrey said the ship immediately took an evasive stance and turned off its automatic detection system about an hour later.

Houthis have been continuously attacking since November 2023

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been carrying out a series of drone and missile attacks on ships passing through the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden since last November. They say that these attacks are being done to show support for the Palestinians affected by Israel’s war in Gaza. So far two ships have sunk in these attacks and three sailors have been killed along with the seizure of another. Due to the attacks, global trade through the Suez Canal has been severely disrupted.

On Tuesday, the Liberian-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion was forced to turn back to assess damage and check for a possible oil spill after being attacked in the Red Sea. Britain and the US have been carrying out retaliatory strikes since February, shooting down several drones and bombing targets used for attacks in Yemen. (Language)