Yemen – Container ship targeted in the Red Sea

On 20 July 2024, the Houthis targeted the ‘Pumba’, a Liberian flagged container ship, with both ballistic missiles and drones in the Red Sea. Brigadier General Yahya Saree, the Houthi Spokesman, announced in a statement that a joint military operation was conducted and that a direct strike on the ship was recorded.

Video footage posted to social media channels was later released, showing an explosive-laden USV approaching the Pumba and being intercepted with rifle fire from the crew. It is reported that this is the 148^th official strike by the Houthis on prohibited ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways.

Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea have continued to rise since 7 October 2024, with a similar event in June resulting in the sinking of the ‘TUTOR’ bulk. On 23 July 2024, the U.N.’s Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, reported to the U.N. Security Council that the threat to international commercial shipping from the Houthis is continuing to grow in both 'scope and precision'.

• Published by Annabelle

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