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“ADDITIONAL MEASURES”
Part of the Iran-aligned Axis of Resistance, the Houthis have been attacking vessels in Red Sea shipping lanes and firing drones and missiles at Israel, saying they aim to support the Palestinians as Hamas and Israel wage war. The Houthis, who rule much of Yemen, have vowed they will continue with their attacks until Israel stops its offensive in the Gaza Strip
A spokesperson for Hapag-Lloyd, the company that owns Al Jasrah, said it was attacked while sailing near the Yemeni coast. “Hapag-Lloyd will take additional measures to secure the safety of our crews,” the spokesperson added, declining further comment.
British maritime security firm Ambrey said the Liberia-flagged container ship MSC Alanya was ordered to alter course towards Yemen by people aboard a small craft believed to be members of Yemen’s Houthi movement, forcing it to take evasive measures.
Ambrey said the MSC Alanya was warned by the Houthis not to proceed northbound, and quoted them addressing the crew: “Captain you are not allowed to proceed to the Red Sea. Alter your course to the south side, now”.
In another incident, Ambrey reported that the Liberia-flagged, Swiss-owned containership MSC Palatium III was targeted while sailing northbound some 23 miles southwest of the Mokha.
Ambrey said the vessel had received the same warning as the Alanya.
Late on Thursday, the Houthis claimed to have carried out a military operation against a Maersk container vessel, directly hitting it with a drone. The Danish shipping company denied the claim and said the vessel was not hit.
But the company said on Friday it would pause all container shipments through the Red Sea until further notice and send them on a detour around Africa.
“Following the near-miss incident involving Maersk Gibraltar yesterday and yet another attack on a container vessel today, we have instructed all Maersk vessels in the area bound to pass through the Bab al-Mandab Strait to pause their journey until further notice,” the company said in a statement.
Maersk on Thursday said its vessel Maersk Gibraltar was targeted by a missile while travelling from Salalah, Oman, to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and that the crew and vessel were reported safe.
The US Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, said on Thursday that Washington wanted the “broadest possible” maritime coalition to protect ships and signal to the Houthis that attacks would not be tolerated.
Iran warned that the proposed multi-national naval force would face “extraordinary problems” and nobody “can make a move in a region where we have predominance”.
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