Metropolis Desk-
The Houthi militia in Yemen, which is supported by Iran, said it was placing its forces on high alert in case the US or other countries launched a military reaction. On Monday, the militia began launching missile and drone attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea.
The militia’s spokesperson, Yahya Sarea, took credit for firing two drones at the container ship MSC Clara and the tanker Swan Atlantic, which disregarded the Houthis’ advice not to sail to Israel.
“Until they bring in the food and medication that our loyal brothers in the Gaza Strip need,” the militia “continues to ban any ships of any nationality traveling to Israeli ports from the Arab and Red Seas,” Sarea said in a statement.
Following reports that Oman had mediated talks between the Houthis and other countries to convince the Yemeni militia to stop its actions, the Houthis withdrew their attacks on ships in the Red Sea on Sunday.
The Cayman Islands-flagged tanker Swan Atlantic, owned by Norwegian company Inventor Chemical Tankers, was struck by a projectile in the Red Sea on Monday.
On Monday, at least five notifications concerning incidents in the Red Sea and around the Bab Al-Mandab Strait were released by the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, which keeps an eye on maritime activity.
At 12:30 p.m., the UKMTO released its first alert, cautioning vessels operating in the area to exercise caution after learning of an incident northwest of Djibouti.
The group then reported on another incident that occurred southeast of the port town of Mocha in Yemen. In that incident, a ship reported that its guards fired warning shots after a boat containing armed men approached the ship.
Commander of the Houthis’ Fifth Military Region, which includes the western city of Hodeidah, Yusuf Al-Madani, has threatened to attack any military forces that attempt to stop the militia from attacking ships that are headed toward Israel. He also stated that his forces have been placed on high alert in case there are retaliatory attacks.
Al-Madani stated on Monday on a local radio station connected to the Houthis: “We have to get ready to fight. The enemy will occasionally react.
The Houthis have threatened to stop ships headed for Israel until Israeli forces stop shelling Gaza by launching ballistic missiles and drones at navy and commercial ships in the Red Sea.
Source- Reuters
