Yemen’s Houthis stated that they attacked the MSC Orion cargo ship with a drone in the Indian Ocean as part of their ongoing campaign against international commerce in solidarity with Palestinians protesting Israel’s military actions in Gaza.
According to LSEG data, the Portugal-flagged MSC Orion was cruising between the ports in Sines, Portugal, and Salalah, Oman with Zodiac Maritime as the registered owner.
Zodiac is partially owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer. The corporation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Since November, Iran-aligned Houthi militants have launched multiple drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden, forcing shippers to re-route cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around Southern Africa and fueling fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread and destabilize the Middle East.
In March, the group’s leader stated that the group was expanding its strike area to prevent Israel-linked ships from crossing through the Indian Ocean toward the Cape of Good Hope.
“The Iran-affiliated group reportedly attacked the Cyclades commercial vessel and two US destroyers in the Red Sea”, its spokesman stated.
Ambrey, a British maritime security firm reported previously that a Malta-flagged container ship was targeted by three missiles on Monday while en route from Djibouti to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis said the Cyclades was on that route when they struck the vessel.
Ambrey concluded that the ship was targeted because of its listed operator’s continuous trading with Israel.
In response to the Houthi attacks on warships, the United States and the United Kingdom have launched strikes against Houthi targets.
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