sraeli Businessman's Merchant Ship Attacked in Red Sea; Houthi Rebels Claim Responsibility

A merchant ship owned by British company Unity, belonging to Israeli businessman Danny Unger, was targeted by missile fire in the Red Sea today, as confirmed by the AFP news agency. The vessel, named Unity Explorer, had crossed the Suez Canal and headed south five days ago, turning off its transmitters. Despite repeated inquiries to Danny Unger and the company's London offices, no responses were received.

In a statement on behalf of the Yemeni army, a spokesperson for the Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack on two ships, including the Unity Explorer. The Pentagon also confirmed that several merchant ships sustained damage in the assault, revealing that the American warship USS Carney, a destroyer, was among the vessels affected. The attack reportedly lasted for about five hours, beginning in the morning.

A US official disclosed that the USS Carney managed to intercept at least one unmanned aircraft during the attack. The destroyer is part of the aircraft carrier Ford's attack group and has intercepted several cruise missiles and drones launched from Yemen since the outbreak of the conflict in Gaza.

Notably, Danny Unger is the son of Rami Unger, a prominent shipping magnate who owns multiple shipping companies. This incident marks the fourth attack on ships owned by Israeli businessmen since the commencement of the war, following attacks on vessels owned by Rami Onger, Idan Ofer, and Eyal Ofer. Two weeks ago, another ship owned by Rami Unger was hijacked.

According to a report by the British maritime security company Embry, the Unity Explorer, sailing under the flag of the Bahamas, was "hit by missile fire" while navigating south of the western coast of Yemen. The vessel transmitted distress signals suggesting the possibility of either a pirate attack or a missile assault. The Maritime Trade Operations Agency of the United Kingdom received reports of UAV activity in the area, further escalating concerns about maritime security in the region.