Türkiye condemns Houthi missile attack on Turkish-owned cargo ship in Red Sea

Türkiye strongly condemned a missile attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea on Wednesday, attributing the assault to Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The attack targeted the Anadolu S, a Panama-flagged vessel owned by a Turkish company, prompting Türkiye to take measures aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

“We condemn the missile attacks by the Houthis on the Panama-flagged dry cargo ship Anadolu S, owned by a Turkish company, while sailing off the coast of Yemen,” the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry refrained from confirming whether the ship suffered any damage, stating only that “necessary initiatives are being taken to prevent the recurrence of a similar incident.”

The missile strike is the latest in a series of attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis targeting shipping in the Red Sea. The group claims these operations are part of a broader campaign in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree acknowledged responsibility for the attack, declaring the group had used “a number of appropriate ballistic and naval missiles” to strike the Anadolu S. Saree described the hit as “accurate and direct.”

According to a multinational naval task force, two missiles landed near the vessel, which was sailing in waters off the Yemeni coast. The attack has heightened tensions in the region, where maritime security has become increasingly precarious.

The Turkish government has not disclosed specifics about the extent of the damage or the crew’s safety, though efforts appear to be underway to address the growing threat to shipping in the area.

The Houthis’ escalation of attacks, which began last November, underscores the mounting risk to global trade routes through the Red Sea, a critical corridor for international commerce.