Houthi Missile Strike Sets Cargo Ship Ablaze

Facts

• The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a press release on Thursday that two anti-ship missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis into the Gulf of Aden set the bulk cargo carrier M/V Verbena ablaze and 'severely' injured a sailor on board.¹
• The wounded civilian mariner was airlifted for medical treatment while the crew on the Palauan-flagged ship extinguished the fire and continued on their way.²
• The Houthis later claimed responsibility for the attack on the Verbena, which was en route from Malaysia to Italy carrying wood, as well as other recent attacks on ships in the Red Sea.³
• On Wednesday, a Houthi drone boat hit a Greek-owned, Liberian-flagged ship on its stern about 66 nautical miles southwest of the Houthi-controlled port of Hodeida, causing severe flooding and damage to the engine room.⁴
• The UK Maritime Trade Operations said on Saturday that the Tutor coal carrier has been evacuated and is now drifting in the Red Sea, with Philippine officials claiming that one crew member is missing.⁵
• Since November, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on marine vessels in alleged retaliation for Israeli operations in Gaza, killing three sailors and sinking one vessel.⁶

Sources: ¹U.S. Central Command, ²CNN, ³Al Jazeera, ⁴BBC News, ⁵Guardian and ⁶Associated Press.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by The Hill. The Houthi's wanton attacks toward vessels in the Red Sea must stop. Many of their targets have no connection to Israel, and their disruptive moves are clearly meant to destabilize the global supply chain and sow chaos. All of this is being done with Iran's blessing, and the US must take a harder stance on both parties. Pres. Biden must rise to the challenge and confront this head-on.
• Establishment-critical narrative, as provided by The Conversation. It's the US that is the biggest source of terror in the Middle East, as its support for Israel's indiscriminate campaign in Gaza and history of destabilizing the region make the Houthis ready for a fight. The US has propped up authoritarian leaders and terror groups in a way that gives the Houthis more legitimacy as a popular movement. Its recklessness has emboldened the Houthis as a resistance force.