Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Houthis Claim Attacks Against Two Vessels, Two US Destroyers

Houthis Claim Attacks Against Two Vessels, Two US Destroyers





Houthi supporters during a rally held in solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in Sanaa, Yemen, April 19, 2024






Yemen's Houthi movement Ansar Allah has delivered strikes on two commercial vessels, Cyclades in the Red Sea and MSC Orion in the Indian Ocean, the movement’s representative Yahya Saria said.







The spokesman added that the movement delivered drone strikes on two US destroyers in the Red Sea. According to him, the hits "reached their targets."


Yemen's Houthi group said on Monday it had launched attacks on two U.S. warships and two commercial vessels linked to Israel, in what it described as retaliation for U.S. and British involvement in Yemen.


The group, which controls much of northern Yemen, said it targeted the American warships with drones in the Red Sea. "These operations have been successful," said Yahya Sarea, a Houthi military spokesman, in a statement broadcast by the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.






Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command said it intercepted on Sunday five Houthi drones in the Red Sea in a post on social platform X.


The Houthis also claimed responsibility for an attack on the CYCLADES, a cargo vessel they say was previously blacklisted by the group for violating the Houthi ban on ships traveling to Israeli ports. "The vessel was accurately hit in the Red Sea after it left the port of Eilat," Sarea said.


In addition, the group said it attacked the MSC ORION, a ship it described as Israeli, in the Indian Ocean.


The Houthi spokesman reiterated the group's position that it would continue its operations in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean until Israel ceases its actions in Gaza.


The Houthis have escalated their maritime attacks since last November, targeting vessels they claim are associated with Israel in a show of support for Palestinians engaged in the conflict with Israel.


In January, the United States and Britain initiated a military operation by carrying out airstrikes on Houthi military sites. In response, the Houthis escalated their attacks on commercial and military vessels from the United States and Britain in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.


In March, the group’s leader mentioned that the group had started expanding the attack area to deter Israel-associated vessels from sailing via the Indian Ocean toward the Cape of Good Hope.


Houthi targeted the Cyclades commercial vessel and two US destroyers in the waters of the Red Sea, its spokesman declared in a televised address on Tuesday.






















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