Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists killed civilians for the first time this week in their current campaign of terror attacks against merchant ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, U.S. officials said.
The Islamic terrorists have launched more than 50 terror attacks against cargo ships and chemical tankers since November of last year. The M/V Rubymar, which was hit by an anti-ship missile last month, became the first ship to be sunk from the attacks.
“At approximately 11:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) Mar. 6, an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned bulk carrier, while transiting the Gulf of Aden,” U.S. Central Command said in a statement. “The missile struck the vessel, and the multinational crew reports three fatalities, at least four injuries, of which three are in critical condition, and significant damage to the ship.”
“The crew abandoned the ship and coalition warships responded and are assessing the situation,” the statement continued. “This is the fifth ASBM fired by Houthis in the last two days. Two of these ASBMs impacted two shipping vessels — M/V MSC Sky II and M/V True Confidence — and one ASBM was shot down by USS Carney (DDG 64).”
CENTCOM noted that the continued terror attacks from the Houthis have “disrupted global trade and taken the lives of international seafarers”; yet President Joe Biden has failed to take the action required — an aggressive military response — to deter attacks from the group.
Houthis Kill Innocent Civilians with Missile Attack
At approximately 11:30 a.m. (Sanaa time) Mar. 6, an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) was launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas of Yemen toward M/V True Confidence, a Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned… pic.twitter.com/W1H0GP4Y6i
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 6, 2024
On Tuesday, CENTCOM shot down an anti-ship ballistic missile and three one-way attack unmanned aerial systems that the Houthis fired at the USS Carney (DDG 64) in the Red Sea. Later in the day, CENTCOM again had to defend itself, destroying three anti-ship missiles and three unmanned surface vessels (USV) in self-defense.