In a statement made by the US Central Command, it was reported that Iran-backed Houthis attacked a Palau-flagged freighter sailing in the Gulf of Aden with anti-ship missiles. It was noted that a sailor was injured in the attack.
Iranian-backed Houthis reportedly attacked the Palau-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated bulk carrier M/V Verbena with anti-ship missiles in the Gulf of Aden. In a statement made by the US Central Command (CENTCOM), it was stated that a sailor was seriously injured in the attack on the ship carrying construction materials from Malaysia to Italy and a fire broke out on the ship, while the injured sailor was evacuated to a joint force ship in the region.
“This reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of seafarers in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” the statement said, adding, “Although the Houthis claim to be acting on behalf of Palestinians in Gaza, they are targeting and threatening the lives of third country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza.” “US CENTCOM will continue to work with its partners to hold the Houthis accountable and degrade their military capabilities,” the statement said, emphasizing that the Houthis’ ongoing threats to the safety of navigation in the region make it difficult to deliver critical aid to the people of Yemen as well as Gaza.
