A ballistic missile and drone attack on a Greek-owned cargo ship traveling in the Red Sea was launched by the Houthis, the U.S. Central Command announced in a Twitter post.
April 29 Red Sea Update
Between 10:00 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Sanaa time) on April 29, Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists fired three anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) and three UAVs from Yemen into the Red Sea towards MV Cyclades, a Malta-flagged, Greece-owned vessel. Initial… pic.twitter.com/r49g6PWO2H
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 30, 2024
According to the statement, the attack occurred somewhere between 10 a.m. and 5:20 p.m. (Yemen time) Monday, targeting the Maltese-flagged cargo ship Cyclades.
According to the same statement, “initial reports indicate that there were no injuries and the ship continued on its normal course.”
The Greek-owned Cyclades, with a capacity of 60384 dwt, was built in 2017 and is owned by the Eastern Mediterranean company of Thanasis Martinos. According to reports, there are no Greeks on board the ship’s crew.
In a video posted on X a representative of the Yemeni armed forces referred to the “operation”.
بيان القوات المسلحة اليمنية بشأن عملية استهداف مدمرتين أمريكيتين وعملية استهداف سفينة (CYCLADES) في البحر الأحمر وسفينةَ ( MSC ORION ) في المحيطِ الهندي التابعتان للكيان الصهيوني بتأريخ 29-4-2024 pic.twitter.com/odjTnZPbkh
— المحامي بسام عبدالحافظ العامري (@bassamalamere77) April 30, 2024
According to the US command, on Monday morning USCENTCOM forces engaged and destroyed a Houthi drone that was headed for the US Navy ships USS Philippine Sea and USS Laboon in the Red Sea.
“It was deemed that the drone posed a direct threat to US forces and merchant ships in the region. These actions are being taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer,” the US statement concludes.