The sailors of the Ukrainian cargo ship, which was hit by the Yemeni Houthis, left the ship

The sailors of the Ukrainian cargo ship, which was hit by the Yemeni Houthis, left the ship Dmitry Usik

Verbena sailors left the ship/Getty Images/Collage 24 Channels

On Thursday, June 13, Yemen's Houthis attacked a Ukrainian ship in the Gulf of Aden. The Verbena crew issued a distress signal and warned that they were abandoning the ship.

The corresponding message was published by the US Central Command. They noted that the Houthis' malicious and reckless behavior continues to threaten regional stability and endanger the lives of sailors in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The sailors abandoned the ship

Yemen's Houthis on June 13 attacked the Ukrainian cargo ship Verbena, which was operated by a Polish carrier flying the flag of Palau, with two missile strikes. Already on Saturday, June 15, it became known that the crew had sent a distress signal, indicating that they were abandoning the ship.

The crew abandoned the ship due to ongoing fires and the inability to control them, says Centcom. . The Iranian frigate IRIN Jamaran, which was only 8 nautical miles (almost 13 kilometers) from the Verbena vessel and did not respond to the distress call.

What is known about the attack on the ship

It was reported that the Ukrainian ship, intended for pillow cargo, was transporting wooden building materials and was heading to Italy.

A missile strike caused a fire to break out on board the ship, damaging the ship and seriously injuring one sailor. The victim was promptly evacuated by an American plane to a partner warship located nearby. He has already received the necessary medical care.

The United States noted that it will continue to cooperate with partners to bring the Houthis to justice and weaken their military potential.

Who are the Houthis?

In 2015, the Houthis came to power in Yemen. They captured the capital of the country, and then the entire north-west. The Houthi regime relies on the help of Iran, and the internationally recognized government relies on the support of Saudi Arabia. Thanks to supplies from Tehran, the Houthis have a serious arsenal of missiles and drones, in particular even ballistics capable of flying 2,000 kilometers. After the Hamas attack, they supported the Palestinians and attacked Israel. In addition, the Houthis began to attack civilian ships in the Red Sea that allegedly have “connections with the Jews” and their allies – the United States and Britain.