Tue Oct 01 05:18:26 UTC 2024: ## Houthi Rebels Launch Attacks on Ships in Red Sea, Targeting Suez Canal Traffic
**DUBAI, United Arab Emirates** – Yemen’s Houthi rebels escalated their attacks on maritime traffic in the Red Sea on Tuesday, striking two ships with a drone and a missile, marking their first assault on commercial shipping in weeks. The attacks come amidst the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict, which threatens to spill over into the region.
The first attack involved an explosive-laden drone that struck the Panama-flagged oil tanker Cordelia Moon approximately 70 miles off the port city of Hodeida. The drone caused damage to one of the ship’s ballast tanks, impacting its buoyancy. The ship was en route to the Suez Canal with armed private security guards on board.
A second attack, this time involving a missile, targeted the Liberian-flagged bulk carrier Minoan Courage, also heading towards the Suez Canal with armed security personnel.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for both attacks, although he identified a different vessel as the second target, leading to some discrepancy in the information. Saree also stated earlier in the day that the rebels had launched drones targeting Israel, a claim that has yet to be confirmed by Israeli authorities.
The attacks come as the Houthis have stepped up their actions against maritime targets in the Red Sea, targeting over 80 merchant vessels with missiles and drones since the conflict in Gaza began last October. The Houthis maintain that they target vessels linked to Israel, the U.S., or the United Kingdom to pressure them into ending the conflict in Gaza. However, many of the targeted vessels have little or no connection to the conflict.
The Joint Maritime Information Center, overseeing by the U.S. Navy, assessed that the Cordelia Moon was attacked due to “affiliations within the vessel’s operational structure” but did not provide further details.
The latest attacks highlight the growing tension in the Red Sea, which has become a key battleground for shipping amidst the escalating regional conflict.
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