Details of the latest attack are disputed, Houthis claim
this was the second attack on the vessel, which was hit by a maritime drone.
Unverified footage of a drone attacking a ship has emerged on social media. The
crew of the Greek-owned ship say there have been no injuries in the attacks.
A second vessel, the 37,600 dwt product tanker Stolt
Sequoia, was also said to have been hit by cruise missiles according to Houthi
military commander Yahya Saree.
Both ships were said to have been attacked in the last 24
hours, with the Stolt vessel hit while in the Indian Ocean, and the bulker
targeted in the Red Sea.
US Central Command claimed in a social media post that the
bulk carriers had been targeted by unmanned aerial system at 4.00am local time
yesterday.
“This marks the
fourth attack by Iranian-backed Houthis on the Transworld Navigator. US Centcom
confirmed that, the crew reported minor injuries and moderate damage to
the ship, but the vessel has continued underway.
According to defence specialists Ambrey, the Houthis first
successfully used a Remote Controlled-Water Borne Improvised Explosive Device
on the June 12, when another Liberia-flagged bulk carrier, the 82,400 dwt
Tutor, was impacted off Yemen’s Red Sea coast, near Hodeida.
The impact of the maritime drone caused the engine room to
flood. Three hours thereafter, the vessel was targeted with a missile. One
crewmember was reportedly killed following the attack, making this the second
incident with crew fatality.
The crew was evacuated by military forces and the ship left
not under control, and subsequently reported as sunk six days after the attack
when an oil slick was spotted near Tutor's last known location.
The maritime drone was described as a 5-7 meter long
white-hulled boat manned with two dummies.
Houthis movement press also claim to have forced the US to
withdraw its carrier, the Dwight D. Eisenhower, following missiles targeting
the vessel.
US Centcom said that the Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike
Group had ended its seven-month tour of duty and will be replaced by the Theodore
Roosevelt carrier group.
Houthis have frequently exaggerated the damage caused by
their attacks on shipping in the region, though their effectiveness has
increased in recent weeks.
