Houthi Missile Attack On Ship Off Yemen Kills 3 In Group's First Fatal Assault

This incident marks a significant increase in Houthi attacks on Red Sea ships, which began in October following the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Houthi missile attack

Source : X/@sentdefender

Three sailors lost their lives, and others sustained injuries in a Houthi missile strike on a ship in the Gulf of Aden, as reported by The Guardian, citing US officials. This marks the first reported casualties among the crew of commercial shipping since the Houthi-initiated attacks on ships off Yemen began last year.

The commercial vessel 'True Confidence' was heavily damaged by an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from a Houthi-controlled area in Yemen.

The MV True Confidence's crew abandoned the ship following the Houthi-claimed attack, leading to casualties and injuries, according to the report. The British embassy in Sana’a, Yemen, stated that at least two innocent sailors died, attributing the tragedy to the Houthi's reckless missile firings at international shipping.

At least 2 innocent sailors have died. This was the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping.

They must stop.

Our deepest condolences are with the families of those that have died and those that were wounded. https://t.co/m1chfLddHR

— BritishEmbassySanaa (@UKinYemen) March 6, 2024

The US Central Command later confirmed the death toll to be three.

The bulk carrier, MV True Confidence, faced a fire on board after the strike, occurring approximately 50 nautical miles southwest of Aden at around 9:30 am GMT on Wednesday, Guardian reported citing the vessel’s owner and operator.

The Liberia-registered owner, True Confidence Shipping, and the Greece-based operator, Third January Maritime Ltd, jointly stated that the vessel was drifting, clarifying that there was no current connection with any US entity, the report said. 

According to the report, Marine security firm Ambrey reported that the ship sustained damage, and a rescue operation was underway with parts of the crew already in lifeboats.

Houthis Claims Responsibility For The Attack:

According to Reuters, the Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged vessel True Confidence, which sank about 50 nautical miles off Yemen's port of Aden.

The strike was declared "accurate" by the Houthis, resulting in a fire on board the ship. "The targeting operation came after the ship's crew rejected warning messages from Yemeni naval forces," a CNN report said.

The Houthi statement reiterated the group's support for the Palestinian people and affirmed their commitment to continuing the attacks in the Red Sea until Israel's "aggression" ends and the Gaza Strip's siege is lifted.

Houthi Rebels' Attacks: 

Since mid-November, Houthi militants in Yemen have been launching drones and missiles against international commercial shipping, citing solidarity with Palestinians against Israel’s actions in Gaza. While previous strikes caused damage to ships, Wednesday’s incident marked the first deaths among merchant sailors.

The Yemen Data Project, cited by The Guardian, estimated 11 civilian casualties in three separate US-led strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen in February. Operation Poseidon Archer, launched by the US and the UK on January 12, reported an increase in Houthi attacks on shipping in February compared to January.

The intensification of disruptions has prompted shipping firms and oil companies to suspend or redirect voyages from the Yemen-adjacent route, accounting for about 12% of global seaborne transit.

Earlier this week, four out of 15 critical submarine cables in the Red Sea were cut, affecting 25% of traffic, as assessed by HGC Communications. London and Washington acknowledge the need for better intelligence on Houthi military assets and are planning to assist in training local naval forces to control Yemen’s territorial waters.

Despite calls for an end to attacks if the Israeli-Gaza conflict ceases, the Aden government remains convinced that the Houthis will continue their assaults on ships in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab strait. While the militia targeted vessels with links to the UK, the US, and Israel, industry sources suggest that all ships in the region could be at risk.