Ambrey Security Agency reported yesterday that projectiles hit a cargo ship off the coast of Yemen without causing any injuries, in an attack believed to be carried out by the Houthis. The agency revealed that the targeted ship, flying the Singapore flag, was 80 nautical miles (148 kilometers) southeast of the Yemeni coastal city of Aden, noting that the attack resembled operations typically conducted by the Houthis in the same area. The agency stated in a press release that “all crew members are safe,” adding that the ship sailed under its own power to the port of Berbera in Somalia to assess the damages and determine necessary repairs.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced yesterday the destruction of two surface-to-air missiles and four drones in areas controlled by the Houthi group in Yemen. CENTCOM stated on its official ‘X’ platform account that it successfully destroyed two surface-to-air missiles and four unmanned aerial vehicles on the ground in Houthi-controlled areas. It added that these weapons posed an imminent threat to coalition forces and commercial ships in the area and that “these actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer.”
The Houthis have attacked at least 88 commercial ships since they began their assaults on global maritime commerce in November last year, according to statistics from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. These attacks have forced some shipping companies to reroute around Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a vital route through which about 12% of global trade passes, according to the International Chamber of Shipping.
Furthermore, the Yemeni Presidential Leadership Council praised the economic and developmental interventions by the Coalition to Support Legitimacy, led by Saudi Arabia, aimed at alleviating the suffering of the Yemeni people and ensuring the continuity of the Yemeni state in fulfilling its essential commitments, including paying employee salaries and supplying basic goods and services. This was discussed in a meeting attended by the Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the Chief of Staff, which focused on discussing military, economic, and living conditions in light of the ongoing threats and severe human rights violations by the Houthi group and the repercussions of their attacks on oil facilities and global maritime commerce. The council reaffirmed its support for the economic and service reforms led by the government to improve living conditions and strengthen the national currency, in close coordination with regional and international partners. The council commended the high vigilance shown by the Yemeni Armed Forces in repelling Houthi aggressions and thwarting their repeated attempts to revert to total war, without regard for the prolonged suffering of the Yemeni people. The council once again urged the group to act rationally and engage positively with the brotherly efforts to achieve peace, stop the bloodshed, and prioritize the interests of the Yemeni people.
