The Älpha Hope', while underway in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, was boarded by two men, armed with knives and machetes, on March 4, 2024. While no injuries were reported, engine spares were stolen by the perpetrators.
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GALAXY LEADER
The Yemeni Houthis announced on March 3 that they will only release the 25 crew members of the 'Galaxy Leader' if the Palestinian organisation Hamas agrees. “Given that the crew was operating on a ship related to Israel, their governments may make a request to the brothers in the Hamas organisation, and if they accept, we have no objections,” posted Nasr Al-Din Amer, a Houthi media official, adding that the Houthis have detained the commercial ship, which is linked to Israel, in support of Palestine and, therefore, the Palestinians are the ones entitled to decide. The ship has appeared in a number of videos on social media platforms after the Houthi authorities turned it into a tourist attraction in Yemen’s Hudaydah Governorate. The videos showed hundreds of citizens arriving daily on small boats to board the ship to take pictures and videos on board. The Houthi fighters have raised the Yemeni flag alongside the Palestinian flag on the ship, with photos of Palestinian children killed as a result of the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip. The company that owns Galaxy Leader released a statement that “all communications with the ship have been lost”, adding that as a shipping company, it will not comment further on the political or geopolitical situation.
GLOBE EXPLORER
The 'Globe Explorer', while moored at Panjang Anchorage after its arrival from Paradip, was approached by a boat on Feb 20, 2024, at 2.50 a.m. with two perpetrators on board. No injuries were reported, nothing was stolen. The ship berthed in Panjang on Feb 21.
NAVE CAIO DUILIO
On March 2, 2024, the 'Duilio' has shot down a drone of the Houthis, which was flying in the direction of the ship, about six kilometers away, implementing the principle of self-defense in reference to the Aspides mission. The drone had similar characteristics to those already used in previous attacks. The Navy thus defended the right to free navigation in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.
US GOV VESSEL
The USS 'Carney' was attacked by several drones and a ballistic missile in the late afternoon of March 4, 2024, in the Red Sea. All drones and the missile were shot down before reaching their target. Subsequently, the US Navy carried out strikes against several targets in the Houthi-controlled part of Yemen. According to US information, several drones and an anti-ship missile were destroyed on the ground. The Houthis confirmed the attack on the destroyer, but stated that two American warships were attacked, and that they will continue the attacks as long as the humanitarian situation in Gaza does not improve.