Earlier this week, a Greek-owned bulk carrier flying the Marshall Islands flag came under attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels, carrying a cargo of grain destined for Iran, the group's primary supporter, as authorities confirmed on Thursday.
The assault on the Laax occurred amidst the ongoing attacks by the Houthis on shipping in the Red Sea corridor. This campaign, they claim, is aimed at exerting pressure on Israel and the West regarding the conflict in Gaza. While shipping activity in the region has declined due to these attacks, the rebels have targeted vessels linked to Iran, as well as economic partners like China and Russia.
Initially, the Laax had indicated Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates as its destination following the attack. However, its listed destination later changed to Bandar Khomeini, Iran.
A statement from French naval forces stationed in the UAE, responsible for patrolling the Middle East, also confirmed the vessel's cargo of grain bound for Iran. The statement reported that a team from Djibouti inspected the damage caused by the attack, which involved both drones and missiles and found no remaining explosives onboard.
Images released by the French Navy depicted damage both at the waterline and on the deck of the vessel.
During the hours-long assault on Tuesday, the Laax sustained hits from five missiles, as reported by the private security firm LSS-SAPU to The Associated Press. LSS-SAPU, which assisted in evacuating sailors from the Houthi-attacked Rubymar that later sank, noted the absence of prior warnings from the rebels via radio.
