Container ship MSC Sky II was persevering with its voyage to Djibouti on Tuesday after being hit by a missile a day earlier close to Yemen’s port metropolis of Aden, its operator MSC stated.
MSC Sky II was hit by a missile about 85 miles southeast of Aden and 170 miles east-southeast of the Bab al-Mandab Strait whereas it was crusing from Singapore to Djibouti, the Swiss-headquartered MSC stated in an announcement.
“The missile caused a small fire that has been extinguished while no crew were injured. She is currently continuing her journey to Djibouti and will arrive today for further assessment,” it stated.
Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto stated Yemeni Houthi forces had attacked the Liberian-flagged MSC Sky II whereas it was en path to Djibouti.
“I am not aware that either Switzerland, Liberia or Djibouti have ever participated in any way in the ongoing conflict in Gaza,” Crosetto stated on X.
The assault is among the many newest strikes by the Iran-aligned Houthis which have escalated since November. The Houthis have stated they’re concentrating on business ships in a present of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
While the militia has stated it might assault vessels with hyperlinks to the United Kingdom, the United States and Israel, delivery business sources stated all ships had been in danger.
MSC, one of many world’s prime container delivery teams, stated on Dec. 26 that the MSC UNITED VIII was attacked whereas crusing by the Red Sea.
(Reuters – Reporting by Jonathan Saul, extra reporting by Gianluca Semeraro; Editing by Alex Richardson and Angus MacSwan)
