The Philippine government confirmed on Thursday that two Filipino crew members were among those killed in a missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a ship in the Gulf of Aden. This incident marks the first deaths resulting from Houthi attacks on merchant vessels transiting the key Red Sea trade route.
The Department of Migrant Workers expressed deep sadness over the loss, stating, “With great sadness, the Department of Migrant Workers confirms the deaths of two Filipino seafarers in the most recent attack by Houthi rebels on ships plying the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” Additionally, it reported that two other Filipino crewmen sustained severe injuries in the assault.
The Philippine government is actively coordinating with the ship owners and its crewing agency to determine the condition of the remaining crew members and facilitate their repatriation.
The attack targeted the Barbados-flagged, Liberian-owned M/V True Confidence, resulting in three fatalities, at least four injuries (three critical), and significant damage to the vessel, according to the US Central Command.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree stated on social media that the True Confidence was struck with missiles after its crew allegedly ignored warning messages from the rebels.
The Houthi rebels, backed by Iran, initiated attacks on ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea last November, purportedly in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The Philippine government continues to seek the release of 17 Filipinos held hostage by the Houthis since November following the seizure of their ship in the Red Sea.