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Houthis vow to escalate attacks

Despite multiple strikes against Houthi positions in Yemen this week there has been no let-up in ship attacks. 

A Palau-flagged general cargo ship called Islander was targeted with two missiles yesterday morning off Aden with a fire reported onboard and nearby military support coming in to aid the vessel.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations and US Central Command said the ship sustained minor damage and was able to carry on its journey through the Red Sea. 

Western military forces have shot down a number of drones in the region over the past 24 hours. 

“Operations in the Red and Arabian Seas, Bab al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden are continuing, escalating, and effective,” Abdul Malik al-Houthi, the Houthi leader, said in a televised speech. 

“Mounting uncertainty and shunning the Suez Canal to reroute around the Cape of Good Hope is having both an economic and environmental cost, also representing additional pressure on developing economies,” stated a new report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). UNCTAD estimates that thanks to increased vessel speeds to maintain schedules ships are using far more fuel, whereby for a Singapore to Rotterdam roundtrip greenhouse gas emissions could be up by as much as 70%.

Sam Chambers

Starting out with the Informa Group in 2000 in Hong Kong, Sam Chambers became editor of Maritime Asia magazine as well as East Asia Editor for the world’s oldest newspaper, Lloyd’s List. In 2005 he pursued a freelance career and wrote for a variety of titles including taking on the role of Asia Editor at Seatrade magazine and China correspondent for Supply Chain Asia. His work has also appeared in The Economist, The New York Times, The Sunday Times and The International Herald Tribune.

Comments

  1. About time attacks all radar installations in that country fast.
    Innocent sailors put in dangarous situations.

    1. Good idea but difficult in practice. Radar is mobile and easily disguised / concealed.

      Arms manufacturers are making a killing.

  2. If they want to ban us from using the waterway around their Country then let’s ban any of their planes and boats from the rest of the international waters

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