The Iran-backed Houthi Army in Yemen forced a container ship headed to Israel to change course in the Red Sea and sail to a port on the shores of Yemen, according to a report by al-Jazeera a short time ago (Thursday). This is an escalation of the naval threat from Yemen, a week after the organization announced that it would not allow ships to reach Israel.
Earlier today, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations organization reported another vessel attacked in the Red Sea – this time, in the open seas, as opposed to near the Yemenite coastline as in previous attacks. According to reports, a missile was fired and hit close to a cargo ship flying under the Hong Kong flag. The ship’s crew was unharmed. A few minutes later, another attack was reported in the Bab el-Mandeb Straits near the Yemenite coast.
Over the last two months, the Houthis have attacked dozens of ships. Some succeeded in escaping, and others were hijacked. The most famous of these is a ship carrying cars which is now at a Yemenite port and has become a tourist attraction visited by hundreds to see the success of the Houthi Navy.