Houthi takeover in Yemen

In a briefing by the representative of the Houthis, which was broadcast on television, Yahya Sharia spoke of an “American” ship

A Greek cargo vessel was struck by a missile and set ablaze near Yemen's city of Aden, as per reports from Reuters and Al Arabiya, relayed shortly after details surfaced from maritime security firm Ambrey.

Two seafarers were killed in a Houthi missile attack on a Red Sea Greek-owned freighter on Wednesday, British and US officials said, the first fatalities reported since the Iran-aligned Yemeni group began strikes against shipping in one of the world's busiest sea lanes.

Yemen's Houthi rebels have declared that Russian and Chinese ships navigating the Red Sea are not under threat, with one leader, Mohammed al-Bukhaiti, going so far as to pledge "the safe passage of these ships." However, he issued a stark warning, stating that "Israeli ships or those with even a weak connection to Israel will not have the slightest chance to pass through the Red Se

Amidst heightened tensions in the region, Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted the Red Sea port city of Eilat, prompting Israel to activate air raid sirens and respond with defensive measures. Explosions were reported near Eilat, with the Israeli military confirming the firing of an interceptor missile in response to the attack.

In a significant development, the United States has declared Ansarallah, commonly known as the Houthis, a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, citing ongoing threats and attacks by the rebel group. This move comes in response to recent Houthi assaults on ships navigating the Red Sea, prompting the US to launch targeted strikes on Houthi positions within Yemen.

Due to attacks in the Red Sea disrupting supply chains, Tesla will suspend production from January 29 to February 11.
"Armed conflicts in the Red Sea and related changes in transport routes between Europe and Asia via the Cape of Good Hope also affect production at the German Tesla factory in the city of Gruenheide," the American company said in a statement, reports AP.

Houthi rebels from Yemen launched 18 drones over the southern Red Sea, according to US military's Central Command (CENTCOM), marking the armed group's 26th attack on international trade channels in the previous seven weeks, reported Al Jazeera.

CENTCOM said that two anti-ship cruise missiles and one anti-ship ballistic missile were also downed.

Ships sailing under the Greek flag or owned by Greek interests operating in the southern Red Sea and Gulf of Aden have been issued with an emergency warning to avoid Yemeni waters by the Greek Coast Guard.

The warning, issued on Saturday, follows the escalation in maritime attacks by Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis on the world's main East-West trade route.

Turkey on Jan. 19 condemned the attack of Iranian-backed Houthi rebels that claimed 79 lives people in Marib, western Yemen.

"We condemn the attack mounted by Houthi groups on a government-held military camp in Yemen which caused the death of 70 people and injured a large number of people," said the Turkish Foreign Ministry in a statement.