A Greek-owned vessel flying the Marshall Islands flag was targeted by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, carrying a shipment of grain destined for Iran, French military sources reported on Thursday.
The Laax, which sustained damage from the assault, has been caught in the crossfire of ongoing maritime conflicts in the Red Sea, a critical trade route. The Houthis’ offensive is part of a broader strategy to exert pressure on Israel and Western nations amid the Gaza conflict. Despite the region’s volatile state, the Laax initially reported its destination as Fujairah, UAE, before redirecting to Bandar Khomeini, Iran.
French naval forces stationed in the UAE disclosed that an inspection team from Djibouti assessed the Laax’s damages, confirming the absence of hazardous explosives after the attack, which involved drones and missiles. The French navy’s imagery depicted significant damage to the ship’s structure.
The security firm LSS-SAPU, engaged in the vessel’s defence, recounted the ordeal, noting that five missiles struck the Laax in a prolonged attack without any forewarning from the insurgents. The firm, previously involved in the evacuation of another Houthi-targeted vessel, had stationed three armed guards on the Laax, which was manned by a crew comprising 13 Filipinos and one Ukrainian, as per the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.
The Houthi faction has intensified its maritime assaults, demanding cessation of the Gaza war, which has resulted in substantial Palestinian casualties. The conflict escalated following an attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel last October.
The US Maritime Administration has recorded over 50 Houthi-initiated maritime attacks, including the capture and sinking of vessels, and the loss of sailors’ lives since the previous November.
In a related incident, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone reportedly crashed in Yemen on Wednesday, with Houthis claiming responsibility for downing it with a missile. The absence of reports of missing aircraft from the US Air Force has fueled speculation about the drone’s operators, with losses mounting this month. The ongoing turmoil underscores the heightened risks and geopolitical tensions affecting maritime operations in the region.