Written by
Nick Blenkey
French FREMM frigates took out two Houthi drones on the primary day that the EU’s EUNAVOR ASPIDES naval mission turned operational.
The EU’s EUNAVOR ASPIDES naval mission, formally introduced solely yesterday, is already up and working with French FREMM frigates patrolling within the Gulf of Aden and Southern Pink Sea intercepting and destroying a variety of Houthi drones launched from Yemen.
General, the scenario within the Pink Sea stays one the place the Houthis proceed to launch assaults on service provider ships regardless of efforts by CENTCOM to neutralize the terrorist group’s property in Yemen earlier than they are often launched.
Illustrative of this, U.S. Central command (CENTCOM) experiences that On Feb 19, between 12:30 and 1:50 p.m., two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) have been launched from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen towards M/V Sea Champion, a Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned grain provider within the Gulf of Aden. Minor harm and no accidents have been reported. The ship continued towards its scheduled vacation spot to ship grain to Aden, Yemen.
Subsequently, a floor to air missile launcher was situated in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and destroyed by U.S. CENTCOM forces at roughly 5 p.m.
One further anti-ship ballistic missile was launched by the Houthis at 6:40 p.m. however didn’t impression any business or coalition ships.
At 7:20 p.m., a one-way assault Houthi drone struck the M/V Navis Fortuna, a Marshall Islands-flagged, U.S.-owned, bulk provider inflicting minor harm and no accidents. The ship continued its voyage towards Italy.
At 8:15 p.m., U.S. CENTCOM forces destroyed one other Houthi drone in Western Yemen that was ready to launch at ships within the Pink Sea.
Between 8 p.m. on Feb. 19 and 12:30 a.m. on Feb. 20, U.S. and coalition plane and warships shot down ten Houthi drones within the Pink Sea and Gulf of Aden.
Moreover, at 12:30 a.m., Feb. 20, USS Laboon (DDG 58) recognized one anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM) headed in its course. USS Laboon subsequently shot down the ASCM.
ABANDONED SHIP ADRIFT WITH DANGEROUS CARGO
Individually, there was excellent news and never so excellent news from the Djibouti Port Authority regarding the Rubymar, the Belize-flagged, U.Ok.-owned vessel deserted by its crew after being struck by a Houthi missile on February 18. The excellent news was that the crew of 24 was introduced safely to the Port of Djibouti by the port authority’s high-sea tugboat Mont Arrey.
The not so excellent news is that the Rubymar has on board 21,999 tonnes of IMDG class 5.1 (very harmful) fertilizer. It’s now adrift within the Bab El Mandeb.
“The Automated Identification System is switched off, we have no idea the coordinates of Rubymar,” mentioned the port authority in a put up on X.
IRAN THE SOURCE OF HOUTHI DRONES AND MISSILES
The Houthis are being provided with drones and missiles by Iran. Proof of this was supplied earlier this month by the Protection Intelligence Company in a report you possibly can obtain HERE
