LONDON. A Houthi missile attack resulted in the loss of three seafarers aboard a Red Sea merchant ship on Wednesday, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM). This marks the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group commenced strikes against shipping in one of the world’s busiest trade lanes.
The Houthis took responsibility for the attack, which engulfed the Greek-owned, Barbados-flagged vessel True Confidence approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen’s port of Aden.
Responding to the Houthi claim, Britain’s embassy issued a message on X, stating: “At least 2 innocent sailors have died. This was the sad but inevitable consequence of the Houthis recklessly firing missiles at international shipping. They must stop.”
Since November, the Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians amid the conflict in Gaza. The confirmation of fatalities from this latest strike could intensify pressure for heightened military responses from Britain and the United States.
CENTCOM reported that the Houthi attack also left at least four crew members injured and caused “significant damage” to the vessel. Earlier reports suggested four mariners sustained severe burns, with three missing after the assault.
The Greek operators of True Confidence indicated that the ship was adrift and ablaze, with no update available on the status of the 20 crew members and three armed guards on board, hailing from various nationalities including the Philippines, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, India, and Nepal.
A U.S. defense official noted sightings of smoke emanating from True Confidence and mentioned the presence of a lifeboat in the vicinity.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency received a report of the incident approximately 54 nautical miles southwest of Aden. UKMTO stated that the vessel had been abandoned by the crew and was “no longer under command,” with coalition forces offering support.
Stephen Cotton, general secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), urged urgent action to protect seafarers in the region, underscoring the escalating risks faced by crews in the Gulf of Aden and Red Sea.
The attack on True Confidence follows the recent sinking of the UK-owned bulk carrier Rubymar due to a Houthi strike, further disrupting global shipping routes and increasing insurance costs for voyages through the Red Sea.
While the Houthis have threatened vessels linked to the United Kingdom, the United States, and Israel, industry sources caution that all ships in the region could be vulnerable to attacks.
True Confidence, owned by Liberian-registered company True Confidence Shipping and operated by Greece-based Third January Maritime, has been confirmed to have no affiliation with the United States.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
