According to British and US sources, a civilian sailor was seriously injured in an attack by the Houthi militia on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden. The responsible regional command of the US military (Centcom) announced this on Thursday, and the British Navy’s Maritime Trade Oversight Office (UKMTO) reported similarly.
The person was reportedly taken to a nearby ship for medical treatment by a US helicopter. The injured man’s nationality was initially unclear. The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attack.
A fire broke out on the “M/V Verbena” after the attack with two cruise missiles, which the crew is still fighting, the US statement said. The ship, loaded with wooden materials and flying the flag of the Republic of Palau, was on its way from Malaysia to Venice. It is owned by Ukraine and operated by a Polish company.
One of the most important shipping routes for world trade runs through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. In recent months, the Houthis have repeatedly attacked civilian cargo ships there. The militia says it is acting in solidarity with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Just on Thursday, the Shiite rebels attacked and hit a freighter with a sea drone and missiles. The US military said it destroyed Houthi missile launch pads.
The US, Great Britain and their allies therefore repeatedly attack Houthi targets in Yemen. The militia is allied with Iran and, according to the US government, is also financed by Tehran.
