The footage shared by Houthi media sources included scenes showing a Greek ship being targeted for “violating the ban on access to Israeli ports” and bursting into flames after being hit.
The Houthis announced yesterday that they targeted a ship called MV Sounion for “violating the ban on access to Israeli ports.”
British Ambassador to Sanaa Abda Sharif also announced that the crew of the MV Sounion ship, which was attacked by the Houthis in the Red Sea, was rescued and that the badly damaged ship remained stranded in the Red Sea.
THE SITUATION IN THE RED SEA
Since October 31, 2023, the Houthis in Yemen, backed by Iran, have been seizing commercial ships they say belong to Israeli companies off the coast of Yemen as a response to Israel’s attacks in Gaza, and have attacked some of them with drones and missiles.
Following the Houthis’ actions, many shipping companies decided to halt their voyages in the Red Sea.
On December 18, 2023, the United States announced that a multinational “naval task force” called “Operation Prosperity Guardian” was formed against the Houthi forces with the participation of a group of countries, on the grounds that global maritime trade security was at risk.
US forces announced that they shot down missiles and kamikaze drones fired from Yemen many times during this period.
While the European Union (EU) launched the Aspides mission on February 19 for navigation safety in the Red Sea, Italy joined this mission with a parliamentary decision on March 5 and assumed tactical command.
About 12 percent of global trade is carried through the Suez Canal, which connects the Mediterranean to the Red Sea, providing the shortest route between Europe and Asia.
(AA)