On Wednesday, a missile strike, attributed to the Iran-aligned Yemeni group, resulted in the tragic deaths of three seafarers on a merchant ship in the Red Sea, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This marks the first reported fatalities since the Yemeni group initiated attacks on shipping in one of the globe’s busiest trade routes. The Houthis took responsibility for the assault, causing the Greek-owned vessel True Confidence, flying the flag of Barbados, to catch fire approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen’s Aden port.
The bulk carrier had 20 crew members and three armed guards aboard, including 15 Filipinos, four Vietnamese, two Sri Lankans, and an Indian. It was carrying steel from China to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. “The U.S. will continue to hold the Houthis accountable for their reckless and unlawful attacks on international commercial shipping in the Red Sea, Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden,” a statement from CENTCOM said.
The attack was the latest in a series of missile and drone strikes that have disrupted global trade in a region where about 12% of the world’s seaborne commerce passes. The escalation in attacks by the Houthis, who control swathes of Yemen, has forced many shipping companies to cancel or reroute voyages.
Earlier this month, the Houthis launched an assault that sank a container ship sailing from Asia to Europe. That attack, which also wounded dozens of sailors, was a stinging rebuke to Britain and the United States, which are launching retaliatory strikes on Houthi targets in a war that the rebels say is in response to Israeli airstrikes against Gaza.
Houthi officials have promised to keep targeting ships in the region until Israel and the United States end their “aggression” against them. Their attacks have already caused significant disruption to global shipping, particularly in the Red Sea, where 13 of the 29 ships attacked so far have suffered direct hits from missiles or drones, according to a Reuters analysis.
While most of the vessels targeted have been sailing to and from Yemen, Houthi forces have also fired on oil tankers and cargo ships bound for Saudi Arabia. They also have struck ships that sail to or from Iran, the Houthis’ principal benefactor.
The heightened threat to shipping has led many companies to abandon or reroute routes through the Red Sea, causing significant disruptions to global trade. The Houthis have used a variety of weapons, including missiles, drones, and manned aircraft. The United States, the U.K., and other allies have been conducting a campaign of strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen to degrade their capabilities. That mission is expected to expand in the coming months. The announcement of the fatalities on the True Confidence may intensify pressure for more substantial military action against the rebels.