A Greek cargo ship flying the Maltese flag was attacked and hit by a missile while passing through the southern Red Sea while heading north. This was reported by various news agencies, including Greek Ana-mpa. The ship’s name is Zografia and it is a bulk carrier, meaning a ship used to transport non-liquid cargoes that are not stored in containers or pellets.
It was reported that the ship was hit while passing through the Red Sea, 76 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s Saleef port. The explosion may have caused serious damage to the ship, but this does not currently endanger navigation ability. There are 24 crew members on the ship, whose nationalities are not yet known.
An action that has contributed to increased tensions in the Red Sea, following US and UK attacks on Houthi rebels in recent days, in order to prevent Yemeni rebels from constantly firing missiles at ships passing through the region. Attacks that caused a crisis in international trade. However, the scenario is also becoming more critical in neighboring Syria and Iraq.
Iran attacks Syria and Iraqi Kurdistan: “Reaction to ISIS attack”
On the morning of Tuesday, January 16, 2024, Iran launched ballistic missiles at targets identified as “terrorist” in Iraq and Syria, killing at least 4 civilians in Iraqi Kurdistan. The missiles reportedly hit the outskirts of Erbil, the capital of autonomous Kurdistan in northern Iraq, which Iran claimed targeted and destroyed an “Israeli espionage headquarters”. Moreover, Iran’s attacks have also intensified in Syria against meetings of anti-Iran terrorist groups on the territory of the self-styled “Islamic State”. According to Iranian officials, the attack is a response to the attacks claimed by ISIS on January 2, which killed nearly a hundred people in the city of Kerman.
The action was condemned by Washington: White House National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson spoke of “a series of reckless and unspecified attacks.” However, this situation caused the tension between Iraq and Iran to increase rapidly. The Iraqi foreign minister actually decided to recall the ambassador to Tehran for consultations.
“Last night’s rocket attacks by the Revolutionary Guard against the ‘Mossad spy base’ in Erbil, Iraq, as well as the ‘terrorist bases’ in Idlib, Syria, were a strong defense of the sovereignty of Iranian forces and the security of the country,” the Iranian said. said. Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani.
It also comes with condemnation of France and Great Britain, with British Foreign Secretary David Cameron speaking of “unmotivated and unfair actions”.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
