Houthi insurgency

Barbara Leaf, the US Assistant Secretary of State for Middle East Affairs, criticized the Yemeni Houthis for their inhumane actions in capturing merchant ships, including the "Galaxy Leader", which holds two Bulgarian sailors. Leaf emphasized that such attacks on vessels unrelated to the Gaza conflict display recklessness and cruelty.

Efforts to limit environmental damage from a cargo vessel that sank after a Houthi missile strike and another abandoned during a fiery assault are on hold until attacks on ships ease, the United Nations' maritime shipping regulatory agency said on Monday.

In a briefing by the representative of the Houthis, which was broadcast on television, Yahya Sharia spoke of an “American” ship

The first fatal attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels on shipping threatens to further sever a crucial maritime artery for global trade and carries with it risks beyond those just at sea.

Three sailors have perished as a result of recent missile strikes by Houthi rebels on a merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, with at least four others sustaining injuries. The vessel, named "True Confidence" and registered under the flag of Barbados, suffered significant damage and was left stranded at sea following the attack.

A Greek cargo vessel was struck by a missile and set ablaze near Yemen's city of Aden, as per reports from Reuters and Al Arabiya, relayed shortly after details surfaced from maritime security firm Ambrey.

Two seafarers were killed in a Houthi missile attack on a Red Sea Greek-owned freighter on Wednesday, British and US officials said, the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group began strikes against shipping in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

In a significant move, the Houthi rebels in Yemen have declared a ban on American, British, and Israeli ships from entering the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as the Gulf of Aden. The ban extends to vessels owned or partially owned by Israeli citizens or companies, as well as those flying the Israeli flag.

In response to escalating tensions in the Red Sea, the US Central Command has taken decisive action in Yemen, destroying a surface-to-air missile launcher in Houthi-controlled areas. The operation, which occurred around 5 pm on February 19, aimed to ensure the safety of commercial and coalition ships navigating the region.

The German government has approved the deployment of armed forces in a European Union naval mission in the Red Sea to protect merchant ships from attacks by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi militia, a government spokesperson said on Friday.

Greece, France and Italy are among the countries that will participate in the mission, named Aspides, meaning protector.