Houthi militants in Yemen launched an attack on what they claimed were two American ships and an Israeli vessel, marking the first such assault in over two weeks, according to the group’s military spokesman. The targeted vessels included the US ship Maersk Yorktown and an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden, as well as the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean, as stated by spokesman Yahya Sarea in a televised address.
Confirmation of the attack came from American authorities, who reported that US-led coalition forces intercepted four drones and an anti-ship missile launched by the Houthis off the coast of Yemen. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated on X (formerly Twitter) that a coalition vessel successfully engaged an anti-ship ballistic missile launched from Houthi-controlled areas, citing an imminent threat to US, coalition, and merchant vessels in the region.
The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea region since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. Yemeni armed forces, led by the Houthis, declared their intent to continue obstructing Israeli and affiliated navigation in the Red and Arabian Seas, as well as the Indian Ocean.
Additionally, a British maritime security firm reported an explosion southwest of Aden, an area frequently targeted by the Houthis. These attacks have disrupted global shipping, prompting reroutes around southern Africa. In response, the United States and Britain have conducted strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen.
