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Houthis attack four ships in Indian Ocean, Red Sea

Yemen's Houthis said on Tuesday they targeted the MSC Orion container ship in a drone attack in the Indian Ocean as part of their ongoing project versus international shipping in solidarity with Palestinians versus Israel's military actions in Gaza.

MSC Orion was cruising in between the ports in Sines, Portugal and Salalah, Oman, according to LSEG data.

discovered clashing details about the signed up owner of the MSC Orion. According to LSEG and other information suppliers, the ship is owned by Zodiac Maritime, which is partly owned by Israeli businessman Eyal Ofer.

A spokesman for the public relations firm representing Zodiac Maritime, however, said the business has actually never owned the vessel.

Iran-aligned Houthi militants have released duplicated drone and rocket strikes in the Red Sea, Bab al-Mandab Strait and Gulf of Aden since November, forcing shippers to re-route cargo to longer and more expensive journeys around Southern Africa and stiring fears that the Israel-Hamas war could spread out and destabilise the Middle East.

In March, the group's leader said the group was broadening its attack area to avoid Israel-linked ships from passing through the Indian Ocean toward the Cape of Great Hope.

The Iran-affiliated group likewise targeted the Cyclades commercial vessel along with two U.S. destroyers in the Red Sea, its spokesman said in a televised address early on Tuesday.

British maritime security firm Ambrey reported earlier that a Malta-flagged container ship on Monday said it was targeted by three rockets while en route from Djibouti to the Saudi city of Jeddah. The Houthis stated the Cyclades was on that route when they assaulted the vessel.

Ambrey examined that the ship was targeted due to its noted operator's ongoing trade with Israel, it said in an advisory note.

The United States and Britain have performed strikes versus Houthi targets in retaliation for their attacks on vessels.

(source: Reuters)