The Houthi rebel organization, which receives support from Iran, launched its first strike on a civilian commerce ship, killing three people, according to officials from the United States.
US Central Command reported late Wednesday night, March 6, that the Liberian-owned bulk carrier True Confidence, flying the flag of Barbados, was attacked in the Gulf of Aden the same day by Houthi forces with an anti-ship ballistic missile.
Fatal Missile Attack
A CNBC report indicates that the True Confidence vessel was hit by a missile, resulting in three casualties, four injuries (three of which are serious), and substantial damage to the vessel. "The crew abandoned the ship and coalition warships responded and are assessing the situation," said the US Central Command.
Posting on social media early Thursday, March 7, the Philippines Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) identified two of the deceased seafarers, and two of the wounded crew members were Filipino.
"With great sadness, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) confirms the deaths of two Filipino seafarers in the most recent attack by Houthi rebels on ships plying the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. We are also informed that two other Filipino crewmen were severely injured in the attack on their ship," the agency stated.
The attack occurred 54 nautical miles southwest of Aden. According to the United Kingdom's Maritime Trade Operations, the incident happened after the ship was called for 30 minutes by an entity claiming to be the "Yemeni Navy" and instructed to change its route.
No specific name was given to the ship during that period. Yet, it was the Houthis who took credit for the strike.
Houthi Spokesperson Yahya Sare'e wrote on X, "The naval forces of the Yemeni Armed Forces carried out a targeting operation against the American ship (TRUE CONFIDENCE) in the Gulf of Aden, with a number of appropriate naval missiles. The strike was accurate, led to a fire breaking out on it." He said that the vessel had ignored Houthi's warning signals.
Red Sea Crisis
Since the Houthis began their naval offensives against ships passing via the crucial Red Sea channel, which carries 12% of the world's traffic, this is the first deadly strike on this route.
The Houthis have taken up arms in support of Palestinian civilians who are being targeted by Israel's military operation in the Gaza Strip, which is targeting Iran-backed Islamist organization Hamas.
Although unaffiliated boats have been targeted several times, Yemeni troops claim they exclusively target ships associated with Israel, the US, and the UK (after retaliatory missile attacks by the latter two countries in reaction to the Red Sea crisis).
