Yemen's Ansar Allah Movement, commonly known as the Houthis, has launched significant attacks on Israeli, American, and British ships, claiming to have targeted vessels belonging to what they referred to as the "trio of evil." The group announced that they staged four operations against these ships, declaring the large-scale offensive a "big success."
Yemenis wave Palestinian flags and hold mock rockets during a march in the Houthi-run capital Sanaa in solidarity with the people of Gaza on June 28, 2024. (MOHAMMED HUWAIS / AFP)
Yemen’s Houthi group announced Monday, July 7, 2024, that they conducted military operations targeting four ships in the Red, Arabian, and Mediterranean Seas, as well as the Indian Ocean, to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
In a statement, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that their fighters used cruise missiles to target vessels “linked with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel,” achieving direct hits.
Houthis Target Specific Ships in Solidarity with Gaza
The Houthis announced that they attacked several ships, including the Israeli ship MSC Unific in the Arabian Sea, the American oil tanker Delonix in the Red Sea, the British landing ship Anvil Point in the Indian Ocean, and the vessel Lucky Sailor in the Mediterranean Sea, whose country of association was not specified. This move aligns with their ongoing strategy of targeting Israeli-owned, flagged, operated, or Israel-bound ships with missiles and drones in solidarity with Gaza, which has been enduring an intense Israeli offensive since October 7.
US and UK Retaliate as Houthis Expand Military Targets
In response to the Houthi attacks, the US and UK have launched retaliatory airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen. The Houthis, in turn, declared that they now consider all American and British ships as military targets, escalating the conflict and highlighting the widening scope of their maritime operations amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
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In the first operation, “Israeli ship MSC Unific was targeted in the Arabian Sea,” Yahya Saree, the Yemeni rebel group’s spokesperson said.
“A US oil tanker Delonix” was also targeted in a second operation that was carried out in the Red Sea “for the second time this week,” he added.
Officials reported that Houthi forces used a drone to attack a vessel in the Red Sea on June 24
Officials reported that an aerial drone launched by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck and damaged a vessel in the Red Sea on Sunday, marking the latest attack on shipping in this crucial maritime corridor. This incident coincided with the return of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower to the US after an eight-month deployment leading the American response to Houthi assaults.
These attacks have significantly reduced shipping through the route, which is vital to markets in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The Houthis have stated that their campaign will continue as long as the Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip persists.
The vessel sustained damage, but the mariners on board were reported safe. The extent of the damage to the Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned bulk carrier is under investigation.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that a drone boat was used, despite other reports indicating otherwise. The US Central Command also identified the vessel as the Transworld Navigator and noted that several mariners suffered minor injuries.
The Transworld Navigator, which had recently docked in Malaysia and was en route to Egypt, has now been attacked four times by the Iranian-backed Houthis. The Houthis have launched over 60 attacks on vessels, resulting in the deaths of four sailors. They have seized one vessel and sunk two since November. A US-led airstrike campaign against the Houthis has been ongoing since January, with significant strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42.
The Houthis claim their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States, or Britain, although many attacked vessels have no direct connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, based in Norfolk, Virginia, is returning after an intense deployment. The USS Theodore Roosevelt, based in San Diego, will replace the Eisenhower following an exercise in the Indo-Pacific. The Roosevelt recently anchored in Busan, South Korea, amid ongoing tensions with North Korea.
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