The Houthis are claiming to have “successfully” targeted an MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship using a “new ballistic missile”.
The post on the militant group’s Telegram channel mentions an attack on the 4,400-teu MSC Sarah V (built 2000) in the Arabian Sea.
The post — translated from Arabic — does not specify when this took place.
The ship in question did pass through the area earlier this week and is currently sailing off the coast of Oman en route to Abu Dhabi, ship tracking data shows.
The Combined Maritime Forces’ Joint Maritime Information Center reported on 24 June that the MSC Sarah V had been targeted, but the strike had landed 50 metres off the starboard side.
It is not clear why the Houthis targeted the ship, which they described as “Israeli”.
There is also no evidence to support the Houthis’ claim that the attack was “accurate and direct”.
The group claims to have “developed its military capabilities” to enhance its “jihadist role in solidarity with the Palestinian resistance militarily and to defend beloved Yemen in the face of American-British aggression”.
“This specific operation was carried out with a new ballistic missile that entered into service after it has successfully completed its trial operations,” the statement added.
“The missile is distinguished by its ability to hit targets accurately and over long distances, as was proved during this operation.”
MSC owned and operated ships have been targeted several times during the Red Sea crisis.
Earlier in June, the MSC-managed 5,248-teu MSC Tavvishi (built 2000) caught fire after receiving a direct hit from a missile in the Gulf of Aden 70 miles (113 km) south-west of Aden.
In April, Iranian naval forces seized the 5,000-teu MSC Aries (built 2020) in the Strait of Hormuz.
The container ship’s crew members were released in May but the vessel is still being held.
