A sailor who was evacuated by US forces was seriously hurt by two cruise missiles fired by the Houthi rebels in Yemen on Thursday when they were attacking a bulk cargo transport in the Gulf of Aden, according to the US military.
Since November 2023, the Houthis have been attacking vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, claiming that their actions are a show of support for Palestinians amidst the continuing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip.
Even though this has seriously disrupted international commerce, there haven’t been many casualties.
The M/V Verbena, a Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated ship flying the flag of Palau, “reported damage and subsequent fires on board.” The crew is still battling the flames. Following the strike, one civilian mariner suffered serious injuries, according to a statement from the US Central Command (CENTCOM).
“The wounded mariner was medically evacuated by aircraft from USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) to a partner force ship in the vicinity for medical attention,” CENTCOM reported.
“The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, are continuing their reckless behavior, endangering the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and threatening regional stability.”
The Houthis declared on Thursday that they had attacked three ships in the previous twenty-four hours, including the Verbena, “in response to the American-British aggression against our country, and in retaliation for the crimes committed against our people in the Gaza Strip.”
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