Beyond going after ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, the Houthis, as part of Iran’s broader proxy network that spans the region, have also launched missiles at Israel. The rebels, for instance, participated in Tehran’s massive and unprecedented attack on the country last month. Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi sees domestic political advantage for some of his actions, and he is interested in advancing his reputation across the Middle East through the attacks.
Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines: “One of the things that’s been challenging is that their rationale for their attacks has shifted over time a bit, and it’s gotten more complicated.”
[May 2 2024 ]
COPENHAGEN, May 2 (Reuters) – Shipping group Maersk (MAERSKb.CO), raised its full-year profit guidance after reporting first-quarter earnings on Thursday, citing strong demand and higher freight rates as ships sail for longer to avoid conflict in the Red Sea.
The company, viewed as a barometer of world trade, said that shipping disruptions caused by Houthi militants’ attacks on vessels in the Red Sea were expected to last at least until the end of the year, adding that growth in demand for container shipping had been stronger than forecast.
[January 27 2024 m/t Marlin Luanda fire was put out ]
Trafigura said the fire was put out by the crew with assistance from the navies of India, the US and France, and the tanker is heading towards a safe harbour. The French frigate Alsace, the USS Carney, and INS Visakhapatnam.
Early Saturday, U.S. forces conducted a strike against a Houthi anti-ship missile that was aimed at the Red Sea and prepared to launch, the U.S. military’s Central Command said.
[January 27 2024 on fire from missile hit ]
Crew boarded lifeboats as a precaution but no injuries have been reported, American officials told Sky’s US partner NBC News.
The ship is understood to be loaded with a flammable liquid called naphtha, making the fire even more dangerous.
USS Carney and a French frigate responded to the ship’s distress call.
Commodities group Trafigura says firefighting equipment has been deployed on the m/t Marlin Luanda [Crude Oil Tanker, IMO 9829899 ] and other ships are travelling to help
The tanker carrying a cargo of Russian naphtha was struck by a missile. The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said that the incident happened 60 nautical miles south-east of Aden.
[January 24 2024 Yemen: 3 missiles fired at m/v Maersk Detroit and Chesapeake in Gulf of Aden, Navy reroutes them back ]
a U.S. guided missile destroyer shot down two anti-ship ballistic missiles aimed at the M/V Maersk Detroit, a U.S.-owned and operated container ship transiting the Gulf of Aden.
A third missile fell into the sea.
U.S. officials said that while the latest attack did not cause any injuries or damage to the container ship,
The Maersk Detroit and Maersk Chesapeake, near the Bab el-Mandeb Strait were part of scheduled U.S. Navy “accompaniment” for a northbound transit of the Bab el-Mandeb today when they reported seeing explosions close by. The U.S. Navy accompaniment also intercepted multiple projectiles.
The US Navy has now rerouted the ships back to the Gulf of Aden.
[January 24 2024 Outhit claim hit on m/v Ocean Jazz denied ]
“The Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists’ report of an alleged successful attack on M/V Ocean Jazz is patently false,” the US Naval Forces Central Command says in a statement. “NAVCENT has maintained constant communications with M/V Ocean Jazz throughout its safe transit.”
Crescent Shift 