Fire on board: German shipping company ship shot at in the Red Sea

The container ship ‘Al Jasrah’ is on its way to Singapore, where it should arrive at Christmas, Hapag-Lloyd reports to the German magazine ‘Spiegle’. There was damage on board and there were reports that there was even a fire on board after the shelling.

There were no injuries in the attack in the strait between Yemen and Djibouti and the ship was able to continue its journey, Hapag-Lloyd said. However, additional measures will be taken “to ensure the safety of our crews,” the German shipping company said.

German shipowners are calling for protective measures
The shipping company was initially unable to provide any information about the origin of the shelling. Recently, Houthi rebels from Yemen have attacked ships in the Red Sea several times. On Thursday, German shipowners demanded protective measures from the government in Berlin and the EU.

Pentagon: Shelling came from Yemen
A US Defense Department Pentagon official said the cargo ship Al Jasrah was hit by a missile fired from a Houthi rebel-controlled region in civil war-torn Yemen. It was initially unclear whether the projectile was a drone or a missile.

Repeated attacks by Houthi rebels
Since the outbreak of the Gaza war, Iran-backed Houthi rebels have repeatedly attacked Israel using drones and missiles, among other weapons. They also threaten to prevent ships of any nationality from passing through the Red Sea on their way to Israel in the future.

Only cargo ships delivering aid to the Gaza Strip would be allowed passage. All others would become “legitimate targets for our forces,” the rebels said.