Houthis hit a ship pound for Somalia

Mogadishu July 20, 2024 (QJ) -The Houthis have attacked a ship from Singapore, reportedly en route to Somalia, as confirmed by Singaporean authorities and the UK Maritime Trade Operations.

The Houthis claimed that the vessel violated a blockade they imposed on Israeli ports, stating that they attacked it with explosive drones.

The MV Lobivia ship operated by Singapore’s Asiatic Lloyd, departed from Djibouti on July 16 and was attacked approximately 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden, Yemen.

The attack caused a fire on the vessel, which the crew managed to extinguish.

The ship continued its journey, and an assessment of the damage from the attack will be conducted at the Somali ports where it is headed.

The Houthis stated that their attacks on ships traveling to Israeli ports are a direct response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. They aim to create economic and logistical challenges for Israel by disrupting trade routes and maritime activities.