The recent assault occurred just a fortnight after the Iran-aligned faction claimed responsibility for targeting three vessels and a US warship. Yemen’s Houthi armed group, aligned with Iran, has reported attacking vessels belonging to the United States and Israel. A Western coalition of warships has been mobilized to safeguard against such incidents amid the ongoing repercussions of the conflict in Gaza. According to Yahya Saree, the group’s military spokesperson, the Houthis struck the Maersk Yorktown cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden, as revealed in a video address late on Wednesday.
The US military has verified that the Houthis launched an anti-ship ballistic missile from their territory targeting a vessel identified as a “US-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members.”
In a statement, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported, “There were no injuries or damage reported by US, coalition, or commercial ships.”
The Greek Ministry of National Defence disclosed on Thursday that one of the country’s military ships, part of the European Union’s naval mission to counter the Houthis in the Red Sea, intercepted two drones launched towards a commercial ship from Yemen.
Earlier, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed an incident approximately 72 nautical miles (133km) southeast of the port of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden.
Saree stated that the group aimed at the Israeli vessel MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean and initiated an attack on a US warship.
The US military reported that within two hours of the assault on the Maersk Yorktown, its troops “successfully engaged and neutralized” four drones over Yemen. “These measures are enacted to safeguard freedom of navigation and enhance the safety and security of international waters for US, coalition, and merchant ships,” it emphasized.
Since November, the Houthis, who are known to support the Palestinian armed group Hamas, have been launching attacks on vessels near their shores. They claim that these actions are aimed at halting Israel’s conflict with Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children.
According to the US Maritime Administration, the Houthis have escalated their aggression against maritime targets. This includes the seizure of a commercial vessel in November and the sinking of a UK-owned ship in March. Since November, they have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping.
However, the frequency of Houthi strikes has decreased in recent months. This reduction is likely due to the group depleting its stockpiles of missiles and drones after numerous attacks, coupled with US and UK air raids targeting their capabilities. The most recent attacks claimed by the group occurred on April 10, targeting three US and Israeli-linked ships, along with a US warship.
The onslaught of Houthi attacks has compelled numerous vessels to avoid traversing the Red Sea via the Suez Canal. Instead, they choose to navigate around Southern Africa, resulting in significantly longer and costlier voyages that span weeks.
