Cargo ship struck by Houthi missiles was carrying grain to Iran
A cargo ship that was struck by five missiles launched by Yemen’s Houthis was carrying grain destined for Iran, the group’s main backers, it has emerged.
The Laax, a Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier, was attacked on Tuesday during an hours-long assault.
Images released by the French navy appeared to show damage at the waterline of the vessel, as well as on its deck.
The attack was part of the Iran-backed rebel group’s campaign to disrupt maritime traffic in the Red Sea corridor in response to the war in Gaza.
The strike on the Laax came amid reports from the Iranian news agency Tasnim, which is linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), that Tehran had supplied the Houthis with new, sea-launched ballistic missiles.
“Now, the missile… has become a weapon capable of presenting serious challenges to the interests of the United States and its main ally in the region, the Zionist regime,” Tasnim reported.
Iran has denied that it arms the Yemeni rebel group, but its advanced weaponry is understood to be supplied by the IRGC.
The Houthis used drones and missiles in the attack on the Laax, according to the French navy’s statement.
It was not clear if the newly supplied Ghadr missiles were part of the barrage.
The Laax was listed last Thursday as travelling to Bandar Khomeini, Iran, the Associated Press reported.
After the attack, the final destination was listed as Fujairah, a port in the United Arab Emirates.
French naval forces based in the UAE agreed that the cargo ship was probably bound for Iran.
The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killing three sailors, seizing one vessel and sinking another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.
Britain and the US earlier this week struck targets in Yemen associated with the group’s surge in attacks.
American officials said British fighter jets and US ships hit underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control hubs and a Houthi vessel in the strikes on Thursday.
Houthis TV channel Al-Masirah news said at least two people were killed and 10 others injured in one of the strikes on a radio building in the port city of Hodeida.