USS Eisenhower. (Photo: US Navy, Public Domain.)
US Central Command announced today (Sunday) that M/V Verbena, a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned, Polish-operated bulk cargo carrier struck by Houthi missiles on June 13, was abandoning ship due to uncontrollable fires.
CENTCOM made a point of noting that while M/V Anna Meta came to their rescue, the Iranian frigate IRIN did not respond to their distress call despite being eight nautical miles away.
This is a further escalation of CENTCOM criticism of Iran for its support for Houthi attacks on shipping and its disinterest in helping international ships.