Analysts say Yemen’s Houthis attacked a cargo ship bound for Iran in the Red Sea

This appears to be the first time the Houthis have targeted a ship bound for Iran (representative)

Dubai:

Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi rebels attacked a cargo ship in the Red Sea that shipping analysts said on Monday was transporting corn to Iran.

Shipping sources said it appeared to be the first time the Houthis have targeted ships bound for Iran since they began attacking international shipping in solidarity with the Palestinians in Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza.

A U.S. defense official said the ship was likely targeted but not hit, but did not provide further comment. Earlier reports from maritime experts suggested the ship may have been damaged but there were no casualties.

The Houthi armed forces identified the ship as the “Xinghong”. Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesman, said in a televised statement that the ship was American, but shipping tracking agencies said the Marshall Islands-flagged vessel was Greek-owned.

The Star Iris had been transporting a cargo of corn from Brazil to Iran, according to ship tracking analysis by data and analytics group Kpler.

Ishan Bhanu, head of produce, said: “Like every bulk carrier bound for Iran, the ‘Star Iris’ did not deviate from the Red Sea, possibly because it did not fear an attack by the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, Given the ship’s destination, the Houthis could be considered ‘friendly’,” said Kepler analyst.

“It is carrying corn from Brazil. Imports are expected to be 4.5 million tons this year, and most of Iran’s corn imports come from Brazil.”

A regional security official said the attack appeared aimed “to show that Iran does not control the Houthis and that they are acting independently” and that the Houthis had notified Tehran in advance.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who control the country’s most populous region, have repeatedly opened fire on international commercial shipping since mid-November. Shipping and insurance sources said they were targeting vessels with commercial links to the United States, Britain or Israel.

The attacks prompted several companies to halt Red Sea routes in favor of longer, more expensive routes around Africa, and US and British warplanes also carried out retaliatory strikes over Yemen.

star iris

Star Iris is a large Panamax bulk carrier managed by Athens-based Star Bulk Carriers, which is listed on the US Nasdaq.

A spokesman for Star Bulk referred questions to the U.S.-led coalition tasked with curbing such attacks.

Iranian officials did not respond to requests for comment. Iran’s trade in food commodities is exempt from U.S. sanctions.

British maritime security company Ambrey and UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said earlier on Monday that a Greek-owned bulk carrier flying the flag of the Marshall Islands was hit by two missile attacks while passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Ambre said the bulk carrier was reportedly spotted with a projectile 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) northeast of Khor Angar in Djibouti and 40 nautical miles southwest of the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Moqa, causing damage to its starboard side.

Ambre said the bulk carrier was reportedly heading to Imam Khomeini Port, one of Iran’s largest ports and a major grain terminal. UKMTO said there were no injuries to the crew and the ship was heading to its next port of call.

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