Filipino Crew Safe After Houthi Missile Attack in Red Sea
The 13 Filipino crew members of a ship damaged by missile attacks in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen on Tuesday are safe, the Philippine government said Wednesday. The Greek-owned commercial cargo ship, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was attacked Tuesday by Houthi rebels while sailing near the Yemeni port city of Al Hudaydah.
A Yemeni coast guard official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that at least three missiles targeted the merchant vessel Laax at around 12:20 pm local time. “The bombing caused severe damage to the merchant ship,” the official said, adding that the crew issued distress calls as the ship began taking on water.
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The Philippines’ Department of Migrant Workers confirmed that the shipping company’s local manning agency informed them the vessel is continuing its voyage to its next port of call. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations also confirmed the attack, stating, “The crew are reported safe, and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call.”
The Houthis, who control the strategic port city of Al Hudaydah, have not commented on the missile attack. Since November last year, the Houthis have targeted ships with alleged Israeli links in the Red Sea to support Palestinians in their ongoing conflict with Israel. This escalation has raised concerns of a broader regional conflict, particularly as the group has threatened to attack Israeli-linked ships in the Mediterranean.
In response to the increasing risks, the Philippines banned the deployment of Filipino seafarers on passenger and cruise ships transiting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden last month. The Philippines is a major supplier of maritime labor globally, providing nearly one-fifth of the world’s 1.2 million seafarers.
