Houthis launch several missile attacks on container ship in Arabian Sea

On July 10, 2024, Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed to have attacked the Maersk Sentosa, an American-flagged container ship in the Arabian Sea, with ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, made the statement during a televised address.

The shipping company Maersk confirmed that its ship, the Maersk Sentosa, had encountered a flying object north of the Gulf of Aden.

Despite the attack, no casualties among the crew or damage to the ship or cargo were reported.

A Maersk spokesman said the ship, operated by Maersk Line, is continuing its voyage as planned.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) also received reports of an explosion near a merchant vessel approximately 180 nautical miles east of Nishtun, Yemen.

An alert has been issued to confirm the safety of the ship and crew.

Saree claimed that in addition to the Maersk Sentosa, the Houthis also attacked two other ships with drones: the Marathopolis in the Arabian Sea and the MSC Patnaree in the Gulf of Aden.

Since November, the Houthis have launched a series of attacks on shipping routes in the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, citing their support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The Maersk Sentosa incident is the first attack on a merchant vessel reported by the UKMTO since 28 June 2024.

US and European navies have recently noted an increase in unmanned aerial and land vehicle activity in the region.

The attack occurred far from the Houthis’ usual danger zone, near the Bab al-Mandab Strait, where most of their previous attacks had taken place.

On June 24, 2024, the Liberian-flagged MSC Sarah V was attacked with a missile in the Arabian Sea. The Houthis later claimed that this was the first use of a domestically built hypersonic missile.

Since mid-November, the Iran-backed Houthis have carried out more than 80 attacks on merchant ships from their bases in Yemen.

Source: Reuters

Marine Insight Academy

Register for maritime courses

• Over 100 free and premium courses
• Learn at your own pace
• Receive certificates for completing premium courses
• Quiz to test your knowledge
• Interactive Videos

About the author

Marine Insight News Network is a premier source for timely, comprehensive and insightful coverage of the maritime industry. Marine Insight News Network provides the latest news, trends and analysis in shipping, marine technology, regulations and global maritime affairs and prides itself on delivering accurate, engaging and relevant information.

Read more articles by this author >