Ship Damaged in Houthi Attack Diverts Route to Djibouti Port

A container vessel that was hit by Houthi militants off Yemen on Saturday has safely arrived in Djibouti, with no injuries or water ingress reported, according to its Greek manager on Monday. The Liberia-flagged MV Groton was targeted by ballistic missiles 60 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen while en route from Dubai to Jeddah. The strike caused a fire in the cargo holds and containers on the main deck, which was extinguished by the crew.

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack, their first on shipping lanes since Israel’s airstrike in Hodeidah port on July 20. The MV Groton was diverted to Djibouti after the strike and arrived on Sunday, with the company emphasizing the safety of the crew as a top priority. Full evaluation of the damage will be conducted, followed by necessary repairs.

The Houthi militants have been targeting international shipping near Yemen since last November, disrupting global trade and drawing retaliatory strikes from the U.S. and Britain. These attacks, carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, have led to rerouting of vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal. The situation remains tense as maritime security concerns persist in the region.

Source .