International
Hutis say that they attacked 3 other ships and the United States, that a Ukrainian freighter was hit
Yemen’s Shiite Houthi rebels claimed new attacks “with direct impact” against three other merchant ships in the Red and Arabian Seas, while the United States confirmed that a Ukrainian-owned freighter was hit and a member of its crew was seriously injured.
The Houthi military spokesman, Yehya Sarea, said in a statement that the new attacks were carried out “with drones and missiles during the last 24 hours,” shortly before the US force in the area announced that one of those attacks caused a fire on a Ukrainian freighter, operated by Poland, and “serious injuries” to a member of its crew.
“The first attack targeted the Verbena ship in the Arabian Sea (…) the second the Seaguardian (…) and the third the Athina,” said the insurgent spokesman, who assured that the latter two were hit in the Red Sea, and that the three actions were carried out with drones and ballistic missiles and had a “direct impact.”
Sarea did not reveal more details about the attacked vessels, although the U.S. Central Command. (Centcom, in English) said in his account in X that “two anti-ship cruise missiles of the Houthis, backed by Iran, hit M/V Verbena.”
It is “a bulk cargo ship operated by Poland, Ukrainian-owned and with the flag of Palau” that “reported damage and subsequent fires on board,” according to the message from Centcom, which pointed out that “the crew continues to fight the fire,” and that “a civilian sailor was seriously injured during the attack.”
“A plane of the USS Philippine Sea (CG 58) medically evacuated the sailor who was injured in a nearby associated ship to receive medical attention,” Centcom added, pointing out that the M/V Verbena recently docked in Malaysia and was heading to Italy with wooden construction material.
The new attacks of the Houthis come after the fighters of this Shiite ideology movement announced on Wednesday a similar action in the Red Sea against a Greek freighter that was “seriously damaged”, in a new escalation of violence on that strategic sea route.
“This continuous reckless behavior of the Houthis backed by Iran threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of sailors in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” the Centcom message added.
He pointed out that “the Houthis claim to act on behalf of the Palestinians in Gaza and yet attack and threaten the lives of third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza,” and “their threat makes it more difficult to provide help to the people of Yemen and Gaza.”
Since mid-November, the Houthis have claimed dozens of attacks on merchant ships in the Red and Arabian Seas, which they accuse of being Israelis or linked to Israel, in response to that country’s attacks on the Palestinian enclave.
Its actions against navigation have intensified in the last two weeks, while the United States and the United Kingdom have also intensified their bombings against Houthi positions in the context of an operation started in February to protect navigation in the Red Sea.
International
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
Not even the wires were left behind at a small grocery store. Before the ground had even stopped shaking, looting and theft began in the areas hardest hit by the double earthquake that struck Venezuela.
Reports of robberies have multiplied in the coastal state of La Guaira, located near Caracas and now transformed into a landscape of collapsed buildings and debris.
Videos circulating on social media show groups of people removing boxes of household appliances from a damaged store. Other images show similar boxes being carried on top of vehicles and motorcycles.
Social media platforms have also been filled with accusations against police officers and military personnel who allegedly stole from homes and even from victims who died during the disaster.
A branch of a major pharmacy chain was looted, along with supermarkets and other businesses. Some residents have described the situation as “disaster tourism,” while others say the looting reflects hunger and desperation among people who lost everything in a country already facing a prolonged economic crisis.
“Is it fair that our own people turn against our own people?” said María Esther Bernal, 71, who rented commercial spaces to Chinese merchants, all of which were looted. “They left nothing behind, not even the wallpaper. They even took the cables,” she said.
“Next door, a man died. He was Chinese. People walked over his body while they looted the place. It was a supermarket,” she added.
An AFP journalist witnessed looting in La Guaira since Thursday, following the earthquakes.
Jenifer Mayora, 34, defended some of the actions, saying that “the things people took were because the owners of the stores allowed us to take them.”
However, she criticized the limited response from authorities. “I have been waiting for a mattress so my children can sleep,” she said.
Residents have expressed anger over what they describe as a slow and insufficient response from authorities after the double earthquake, which has left around 1,450 people dead and tens of thousands missing.
Communities are demanding not only faster rescue operations in La Guaira, but also stronger security measures and urgent assistance with food, water, and medicine.
International
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
Up to 6.76 million people could be affected by the devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, according to an assessment released by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a United Nations agency.
The organization said the projections are based on available population data and damage assessments, and include up to two million people living in Caracas, the country’s capital.
The estimates highlight the potentially massive humanitarian impact of the disaster, the IOM warned.
Entire buildings collapsed in La Guaira, a coastal area north of Caracas, following the powerful twin earthquakes that reached magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 on Wednesday.
The national death toll has risen to 920, while rescue teams continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble in coastal regions and other affected areas.
UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher told AFP on Friday that more than 50,000 people were reported missing.
The IOM also revealed that it worked with Microsoft’s artificial intelligence laboratory on an initial satellite mapping analysis, which showed that 31.5% of buildings in the town of Catia La Mar had suffered damage.
Authorities and international rescue teams continue operations as Venezuela faces one of its largest humanitarian emergencies in recent years.
International
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday expressed his condolences to the people of Venezuela following the two devastating earthquakes that struck the country and highlighted the ongoing coordination between UN humanitarian teams and interim President Delcy Rodríguez.
Speaking during the UN’s daily press briefing, spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said Guterres was deeply saddened by the loss of life and widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
“The Secretary-General is deeply distressed by the loss of life and the widespread devastation caused by the earthquakes that struck Venezuela yesterday. He extends his heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” Dujarric stated.
Venezuela was struck on Wednesday by two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. According to official figures, the disaster has left at least 164 people dead and 971 others injured.
Dujarric noted that preliminary reports indicate significant damage across several states, including the capital, Caracas. Numerous casualties have been reported, while other individuals remain trapped beneath collapsed structures or are still missing.
“Critical infrastructure has been damaged and essential services have been disrupted,” the spokesperson said.
The United Nations confirmed that its humanitarian team remains in close contact with interim President Delcy Rodríguez and other relevant authorities as emergency operations continue.
To support relief efforts, the UN has established a coordination center in Caracas and is assisting local authorities to ensure that humanitarian aid reaches affected communities as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Guterres also welcomed the expressions of solidarity and offers of assistance from countries around the world that responded following news of the disaster, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing the humanitarian emergency.
Looting Spreads in Venezuela’s Hardest-Hit Areas After Deadly Earthquakes
UN warns Venezuela earthquakes could affect up to 6.76 million people
United Nations Coordinates Relief Efforts as Venezuela Death Toll Rises After Twin Quakes
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