Turkey Condemns Houthi Missile Attack on Turkish-Owned Cargo Ship in Red Sea

ISTANBUL – Turkey strongly condemned a missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeting a Turkish-owned cargo ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, vowing to take measures to prevent future incidents. The Panama-flagged vessel, the Anadolu S, was reportedly targeted by multiple missiles while sailing off the coast of Yemen.

The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on Tuesday, stating they had struck the Anadolu S with "a number of appropriate ballistic and naval missiles." Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree declared the strike was "accurate and direct," claiming it was carried out in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict with Israel.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry issued a statement denouncing the attack but did not provide details on the extent of any damage to the Anadolu S. The Ministry emphasized that "necessary initiatives are being taken to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident."

This attack marks the latest in a series of Houthi strikes targeting shipping in and around the Red Sea since November. The rebels claim these actions are in retaliation for Israeli actions in Gaza, but they have raised concerns about the safety of maritime traffic in the region.