Dramatic images show Genco’s ship after Houthi attack in Gulf of Aden

Yemen’s Houthis have targeted a US-owned bulk carrier ship just hours after Washington put the group back on its list of global terrorists.

The supramax bulker 55,255-dwt Genco Picardy owned by US-based Genco Shipping & Trading was hit on Wednesday by Houthis, causing a fire that was soon extinguished, officials said.

The Indian Navy’s message on Thursday clarifies that it was a drone.

Specifically, Indian Navy’s guided missile destroyer INS Visakhapatnam deployed in Gulf of Aden for antipiracy operations, swiftly responded to the distress call by the Marshall Island flagged Genco Picardy 2005-built ship, following a drone attack at 2311 hrs on January 17.

The Indian forces provided assistance to the ship which has 22 crew members, including 9 Indian.

No casualties were reported and the fire is under control, as the navy reports.

Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) specialists from the Visakhapatnam boarded the ship in the early hours today and “the damaged area thoroughly inspected and rendered safe.”

It was given today the “green light” to the ship to transit to the next port of call.

In a recent press release, the spokesperson for the Yemeni armed forces, Yahya Sare’e, confirmed that the “Yemeni armed forces carried out a targeting operation against the American ship Genco Picardy, in the Gulf of Aden with a several of adequate naval missiles, leaving direct hits.”

The U.S. Central Command also issued a statement yesterday saying that an assessed one-way attack UAS was launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen and struck Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.

As it is reported, there were no injuries, but some damage is reported. However, the ship “is seaworthy and continuing underway.”

The attack was a clear rebuke to the Biden administration for its announcement earlier on Wednesday that it was reassigning the Houthis to its list of “specially designated global terrorists”.

White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea “fit the textbook definition of terrorism” in a statement announced yesterday.

At approximately 11:59 p.m. local time on Wednesday, U.S. Central Command forces conducted strikes on 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired in Houthi controlled areas in Yemen.

“These missiles on launch rails presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and U.S. Navy ships in the region and could have been fired at any time, prompting U.S. forces to exercise their inherent right and obligation to defend themselves,” Centcom said.