One of the ships recently attacked, the bulk carrier Motaro, had notably departed from the Russian port of St. Petersburg and was en route to China. At the time of the attack, the ship was sailing through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, also known as the “Gate of Tears.” This strait, located between the Arabian Peninsula and Africa, serves as a critical passage between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Additionally, two container ships, the Maersk Kowloon and SC Montreal, were reportedly targeted. There were no major damages or injuries reported. All three ships are sailing under the Liberian flag. The Houthis, as is customary, referred to these vessels as “Israeli ships.”

Information about vessels

De Amerikaanse krant The Wall Street Journal heeft op gezag van twee anonieme Europese ‘defensie-officials’ en een ‘ingewijde’ geschreven dat Rusland de Houthi’s helpt aan informatie over schepen die ze kunnen aanvallen.

In response to The Wall Street Journal article, colleagues from The New York Times sought clarification from U.S. intelligence specialists, who stated they have not yet found evidence that Russia is actively supporting the Houthis. However, according to The New York Times, American officials believe that Russian President Putin may be considering such support as part of his broader strategy to counter Western influence. The anonymous officials indicated that Putin is continuously assessing ways to expand the conflict with the West. Support for the Houthis could serve as an indirect tactic that would allow him to avoid provoking additional Western military assistance to Ukraine.

Source: NT