CONFLICT
Huthis verstärken maritime Angriffe im Indischen Ozean.
May 3, 2024 - Jemens vom Iran unterstützten Huthis bedrohen Frachtschiffe im Indischen Ozean nachdem sie das MSC Orion Containerschiff weit außerhalb des Roten Meers angegriffen haben.
A drone attack on the MSC Orion on April 26 followed a threat by the Houthis to extend their attacks to the Indian Ocean, including on commercial vessels sailing between Asia and Europe around the Cape of Good Hope.
The Houthis -- also known as Ansar Allah -- have launched at least 50 attacks since November on commercial ships, saying they are acting in support of Gaza’s Palestinians, a Pentagon official said in late March.
“In the Red Sea, Ansar Allah is seeking to disrupt this vital route for global trade, carrying out at least 50 attacks,” Assistant Secretary of Defence for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander said during a congressional hearing.
The attack on MSC Orion is one of the most far-reaching perpetrated by the Houthis, as MSC Orion was 300 nautical miles (555km) from the Horn of Africa.
The vessel is the sister ship of the MSC Aries, which Iran’s Revolutionary Guards seized on April 13 in the Strait of Hormuz.
Zodiac Maritime operates the MSC Aries and MSC Orion and is controlled by the Israeli-born Eyal Ofer.
The Joint Maritime Information Centre said debris from an unmanned aerial vehicle (drone) had been found aboard MSC Orion, which suffered only minor damage.