Houthis Launch Multiple Missiles On Three Ships In Arabian & Red Seas

A Liberian-flagged merchant vessel was targeted by a series of close-range explosions while transiting through the Bab el-Mandeb strait on October 28, 2024.

Per the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), the vessel, identified as the Motaro, narrowly escaped damage in three separate attacks.

The explosion occurred at 2:35 p.m. UTC, about 25 nautical miles south of Yemen’s Al Mukha, as per the captain’s report.

A second explosion occurred 28 minutes later, followed by a third explosion at 4:37 p.m., all dangerously close to the ship.

Martin Kelly, head of advisory at EOS Risk Group, confirmed the attacks, saying that projectiles or explosive devices were likely used in the attack on the Motaro.

The Houthis have claimed responsibility for these attacks. Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, without any evidence, said that Yemeni forces attacked the Motaro and two other vessels, the Maersk Kowloon and SC Montreal.

The SC Montreal was targeted in the Arabian Sea while en route from Port Victoria, Seychelles, to Salalah, Oman. The LSEG tracked the Maersk Kowloon in the western Indian Ocean, also en route from Salalah.

All three targeted vessels were Liberian-registered, as per the data from LSEG.

Saree says these attacks were launched in retaliation to possible violations of a blockade on Palestinian ports, though his claims have yet to be validated.

While the vessel, Motaro, managed to escape the attacks and no crew members were injured, the private security firm Ambrey said that the vessel had taken measures, including turning off its location transmitter and employing private armed security.

These measures have become common as Houthi-led attacks on merchant vessels continue to threaten shipping routes.

The Houthis have expanded their attacks on commercial vessels over the past year. During this time, the US-led coalition in the region intercepted several Houthi-fired missiles and drones.

This incident breaks an 18-day pause in Houthi attacks.

The last one happened on October 10 when the Olympic Spirit, a chemical tanker, was targeted. Shortly after, U.S. forces responded by deploying stealth bombers to destroy suspected Houthi underground bunkers.

References: AP News, ABC News

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