The
Houthi spokesperson issued the latest list of claimed attacks saying that they
were continuing to target ships from companies that call in Israeli ports.
While making unsubstantiated claims that they had launched missiles and drones
they did not claim any hits and none of
the claims matched reports from the maritime security forces.
Two
Greek bulkers both traveling north in the Red Sea were reportedly targeted.
Spokesperson Yahya Saree said it was related to “companies violating the
decision to ban entry to the ports,” of Israel. One ship he cited was the Roza (93,386
dwt), a Liberian-registered bulker built in 2010. Her last AIS signal shows the
ship bound for the Suez Canal. The other ship was the Vantage Dream (29,084
dwt) also registered in Liberia. She is traveling from India and also showing
that she is approaching the Suez Canal.
The
third claim cited the Maersk Line Ltd. vessel Maersk Seletar (108,299
dwt).
She operates under the U.S. flag and
is transporting materials for the U.S. military showing a destination of Oman. She made the circuit around Africa
with the Houthis saying she was targeted while transiting the Arabian Sea.
The only
report of a specific incident was days old and came from the UK Maritime Trade
Organizations. They reported today that a master “reported a significant
explosion a short distance from the port side of the vessel.” On inspection,
the master said no damage was found.
Analysts
are noting that the report cites a position further to the north in the Red Sea
which seems to align with the Houthis claims of an increased range. The report
lists the position of the vessel as 50 nautical miles southwest of Al Shuqaiq,
Saudi Arabia.
These
claims appeared as Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs Christos Stylianides
asserted to a reporter from Reuters that the EU Operation Aspides is seeing a
decline in the attacks by the Houthi. He
said they had seen “a notable reduction in the number and intensity of
attacks,” over the past week citing the joint efforts between the forces patrolling
in the region.