At least two dead and ship abandoned after Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden

A missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a commercial ship in the Gulf of Aden killed two crew members and forced survivors to abandon the vessel, US and UK officials said.

It is the first fatal attack in a campaign by the group over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The extent of the damage to the Barbados-flagged bulk carrier True Confidence remained unclear but two crew members were killed and six wounded, with survivors fleeing the ship in lifeboats, US officials said. A US warship and the Indian navy are on the scene trying to assist in rescue efforts.

Brigadier General Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesperson, claimed the attack in a pre-recorded message, saying its missile fire set the vessel ablaze. He said the rebels’ attacks would only stop when the “siege on the Palestinian people in Gaza is lifted”.

In a statement on Twitter/X directly responding to the Houthi claim, Britain’s embassy wrote: “At least two 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.”

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Those vessels have included at least one with cargo bound for Iran, the Houthis’ main benefactor, and an aid ship later bound for Houthi-controlled territory.

Despite more than a month and a half of US-led airstrikes, Houthi rebels have remained capable of launching significant attacks.