Maritime Attack Reported Off Yemeni Coast
The United Kingdom’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) has reported a maritime incident off the coast of Yemen. According to the organization, a vessel was struck by three unidentified projectiles approximately 77 nautical miles (143 km) off the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah.
Although the vessel sustained damage, no casualties were reported. The ship is currently classified as “not under command,” meaning it has lost the ability to maneuver.
This attack is part of a broader pattern of aggression in the region attributed to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who have been launching attacks on international shipping since November in solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war on Gaza.
The Houthis, who control large parts of northern and western Yemen, including the capital, Sanaa, have carried out more than 70 attacks on vessels using missiles and drones.
These assaults have led to the deaths of four sailors and the sinking of two vessels, with one ship seized by the rebels. While many attacks have caused significant damage, several missiles and drones have been intercepted by a US-led coalition patrolling the Red Sea. Others have failed to reach their targets, falling harmlessly into the sea.
Tensions Escalate in Lebanon Following Israeli Strikes
Meanwhile, tensions in Lebanon continue to rise amid escalating military actions. On Wednesday morning, 21st August, Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon, killing one person. Lebanese media outlet An-Nahar confirmed that several others were injured in the attack.
This incident followed an earlier Israeli airstrike on the village of Khiam, which resulted in the death of one individual of Syrian descent, according to the National News Agency.
In response to the continued violence in the region, opposition leader Yair Lapid of Israel has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the situation in the north of the country.
Following a missile barrage from Lebanon that struck the illegal Israeli settlement of Katzrin, causing fires and injuring at least one person, Lapid took to social media to express his concerns.
“A direct hit in Katzrin. The government has lost control of the north,” Lapid posted on X, reflecting growing frustration within Israel over the deteriorating security situation along the northern border.
During his recent regional tour, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken concluded his efforts in Qatar, where he met with Qatari leaders following discussions with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
Blinken revealed that Israel has agreed to a bridging proposal aimed at advancing ceasefire talks in Gaza and expressed his commitment to persuading Hamas to support the initiative.
Read also: A Historic Overview of the Lebanese-Israeli Conflict.
