First fatalities reported in Houthi shipping attacks in Red Sea

Yemen’s Houthi rebels launched a missile attack on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden, resulting in the death of two crew members. The attack on the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier, True Confidence, marked the first fatal Houthi strike amid Israel’s conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The attack exacerbated the conflict along a vital maritime route linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe, causing disruptions in global shipping. Despite ongoing U.S. airstrikes initiated in January, the Houthis have persisted in their assaults since November.

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Iran also announced its intent to seize a $50 million cargo of Kuwaiti crude oil belonging to American energy firm Chevron Corp. This announcement follows the seizure of a tanker by Iran nearly a year ago.

Reports suggest that the attack on the True Confidence occurred after the vessel was hailed over the radio by individuals claiming to be the Yemeni military. This tactic, consistent with the Houthis’ previous actions in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, raises suspicions of their intentions to commandeer vessels.

According to two U.S. officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the anti-ship ballistic missile attack resulted in the deaths of two crew members and left six others injured. The State Department condemned the attack, highlighting the disregard for innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

The full extent of damage to the Liberian-owned ship remains unclear, as the crew was forced to abandon the vessel and deploy lifeboats. Both U.S. and Indian naval forces assisted in rescue efforts.

In a prerecorded message, Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, stating that their missile fire engulfed the vessel in flames. The rebels assert that their attacks will persist until the “siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza is lifted.”

The motive behind the Houthis’ targeting of the True Confidence remains uncertain. The vessel was previously owned by Oaktree Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based fund.

Amidst these developments, a separate Houthi assault targeted the USS Carney, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer involved in the American campaign against the rebels. The Carney successfully intercepted bomb-carrying drones and an anti-ship ballistic missile.