Washington, Mar 7 (EFE).- Three sailors were killed in a Houthi missile attack on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, the Pentagon said.
The attack on Wednesday marked the first reported fatalities in the volatile region since the Iran-backed Yemeni rebels began targeting vessels in the busy sea route.
According to the United States military, the Shia rebels carried out the attack using an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) aimed at the True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier, as it was transiting the Gulf of Aden.
“The missile struck the vessel, and the multinational crew reports three fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, and significant damage to the ship,” the US Central Command said.
Following the attack, the crew abandoned the merchant ship, and coalition warships responded, currently assessing the situation, the US military said.
This incident marks the fifth ASBM fired by the Houthis in the last two days. Two of these missiles impacted merchant ships Sky II and True Confidence, while one was successfully intercepted by the US military.
“The reckless attacks by the Houthis have disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers,” the Pentagon said.
The British Navy earlier reported that the merchant ship was hit 54 nautical miles southwest of Aden.
A Houthi spokesperson said the aim of the attack was not to kill civilians.
The spokesperson said the ship was American-owned, and the crew ignored warnings given to them.
It marks one of the most serious attacks by the Houthis against a ship in this sea lane. Last month, the rebels targeted the British ship “Rubymar,” which became the first vessel to sink due to attacks by the insurgents.
The Houthis began attacking ships in the Red Sea in November in what they claim is a retaliation campaign in solidarity with Palestinians in their Gaza war with Israel.
These attacks have intensified following the US designation of the Houthis as a terrorist group. EFE
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