Houthi-controlled Yemen launches two ballistic missiles
The U.S. Department of Defense announced that the forces that seized an Israeli-related vessel in the Gulf of Aden are believed to be Somalis.
According to CNN on the 27th (local time), U.S. Department of Defense spokesman Pat Ryder said that the attack on the oil tanker in the Gulf of Aden appears to have been carried out by individuals in Somalia, not Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
“We know they are not Houthis,” Ryder said, adding, “This incident is related to pirates.” It is said that the five people who attacked the oil tanker fled, but were soon captured and are currently being detained on a U.S. military vessel.
It did not say whether the ballistic missiles launched from Yemen were believed to have targeted oil tankers and U.S. ships. He also said the missile “fell harmlessly into the sea.”
Regarding the continued attacks by Houthi rebels, spokesman Ryder dismissed the assessment, saying that the Gaza conflict has not spread to the region, saying, “These groups have wanted the withdrawal of U.S. forces for a long time.”
However, they criticized that although there were three Chinese naval ships nearby, they did not respond to the distress call.
Spokesperson Ryder said, “According to international maritime norms and laws, if there is a distress signal, all nearby vessels must come to help and provide support,” and criticized, “The three Chinese ships nearby did not respond.”
The Chinese ships are believed to have been in the Gulf of Aden as part of an anti-piracy mission, Ryder added.
The previous day, armed men had captured the chemical tanker ‘Central Park’ in the Gulf of Aden, and the US Navy destroyer USS Mason, which responded to a distress signal, rescued it.
Afterwards, the U.S. Central Command announced in a statement that two ballistic missiles were launched from Yemen, which was controlled by Houthi rebels, at the time of the rescue of the oil tanker.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been carrying out attacks against US troops and Israel stationed in the Middle East since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip on the 7th of last month.
The Houthis’ navy issued a statement last week, warning again that it will “continue military operations against ships in the Red Sea that fly the Israeli flag, are managed by Israeli companies or are owned by Israelis, until the aggression against the Gaza Strip ceases.”
According to the London Stock Exchange (LSE), the Central Park is of Liberian nationality, but is known to be owned by Zodiac Shipping, owned by Israeli conglomerate Eyal Ofer.
However, an official from Zodiac Shipping drew the line, saying, “Zodiac is not owned by Ofer Global.”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.