Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea issued a statement claiming responsibility for an attack on the Lobivia ship during a pro-Palestinian rally in Sanaa, Yemen, on July 19, 2024.| Photo Credit: Reuters
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) reported that a Singapore-flagged vessel suffered damage following an attack, purportedly by Houthi militants, southeast of Yemen on Friday.
The MPA said it was informed that container vessel the LOBIVIA was hit by “unidentified projectiles” while transiting the Gulf of Aden, resulting in a fire onboard that was subsequently extinguished by the crew.
Also read | Terrorism In Jammu and Kashmir: Central Government’s Major Action to Combat
There are no Singaporeans among the crew, Channel News Asia reported, citing the authority and adding that all crew are accounted for and safe.
Despite sustaining damage, the vessel managed to set sail and reached Berbera Port in Somalia. It will undergo a damage assessment and receive necessary repairs, according to the statement.
MPA said it is in contact with the vessel manager to provide any assistance that might be needed. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has also alerted its security partners in the Gulf of Aden region to provide help, it added.
In a televised speech, Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the group had launched ballistic missiles and drones towards the LOBIVIA.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the vessel LOBIVIA was struck by two missiles on two separate instances, approximately 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen.
“The ship was transiting northeast along the Gulf of Aden when a merchant vessel in the vicinity observed ‘light and blast’ where the ship was located,” Channel News Asia had British security firm Ambrey as saying.
Ambrey reported that the vessel executed immediate evasive maneuvers and deactivated its automatic identification system about an hour subsequently.
Since November, Houthi militants in Yemen have initiated drone and missile strikes on shipping routes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group claims that these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians impacted by the conflict in Gaza with Israel.
The group has sunk two vessels and seized another, killed at least three sailors and severely disrupted global trade by forcing ship owners to avoid the Suez Canal trade shortcut.
On Tuesday, the Liberia-flagged oil tanker Chios Lion had to return to assess damage and investigate a possible oil spill following an attack in the Red Sea. Since February, Britain and the US have carried out retaliatory strikes, downing drones and targeting attack sites in Yemen.
