Yemen’s Houthis Claim Attacks on US Warships Citing Support for Palestinians and Opposing Coalition Strikes
Houthi rebels in Yemen claimed responsibility for launching missile and drone attacks against two US Navy warships in the Red Sea on Tuesday night. This action comes amidst a period of heightened tensions in the region, with the Houthis targeting vessels they believe are linked to Israel and the US-led coalition supporting the Yemeni government.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea announced the attacks through a statement aired on their satellite TV channel. He stated that the operation aimed to support the Palestinian people in Gaza and retaliate against the “US-British aggression” against Yemen. Sarea emphasized that the attacks would continue until Israel ends its offensive in Gaza and the siege on the Palestinian people is lifted.
The US Navy has yet to comment on the alleged attacks. However, shortly before the Houthi statement, the US-led coalition launched airstrikes on the Yemeni port city of Hodeidah, targeting what residents reported as Houthi mobile missile launchers. This highlights the ongoing cycle of violence in the region.
This incident follows previous Houthi claims of missile attacks on US Navy ships and an Israeli commercial vessel in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in early February. While the US confirmed damage to a commercial vessel, they denied any damage to their warships from the alleged Houthi missiles.
The Houthis have been engaged in a civil war against the Yemeni government since 2014, with support from Iran. They have increasingly targeted shipping vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, particularly those suspected of aiding Israel or the Saudi-led coalition, in an attempt to pressure them into ending their involvement in the conflict.
The US-led coalition, including the United Kingdom, has responded with airstrikes against Houthi targets to deter them from attacking commercial vessels and ensure the free flow of international shipping in the region. However, the Houthis remain committed to escalating their attacks until their demands are met.
This situation reflects the complex and volatile nature of the Yemeni conflict, where regional and international powers are drawn into the fray, further complicating efforts to find a peaceful resolution. The targeting of civilian vessels adds another layer of concern, raising fears of broader escalation and potential harm to innocent lives.
emen’s Houthi rebels announced on Tuesday night that they carried out missile and drone attacks against two US Navy warships in the Red Sea. Yahya Sarea, a spokesperson for the Houthi military, stated on the Houthi-controlled satellite TV channel al-Masirah that the operation involved launching naval missiles and drones.
Sarea emphasized that these attacks were in response to what they perceived as US-British aggression against Yemen and to show support for the Palestinian people in Gaza. He vowed that the assaults would persist until the Israeli offensive in Gaza ended and the blockade on Palestinians was lifted.
As of now, the US Navy has not officially commented on the alleged attacks by the Houthis.
Shortly before the Houthi announcement, there were reports of five airstrikes conducted by the US-British military coalition in Yemen’s port city of Hodeidah. These airstrikes targeted areas in the northwest and western parts of the city, reportedly hitting Houthi mobile missile launchers.
On a previous occasion, Sarea claimed that the Houthis had launched anti-ship ballistic missiles targeting US Navy ships in the Red Sea and an Israeli commercial vessel in the Gulf of Aden. However, the US Central Command refuted this, stating that the missiles fired by the Houthis caused no damage to the US Navy ships but did damage the M/V MSC SKY II, a container vessel.
The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, particularly those they suspect have ties to Israel, since November of the previous year. They claim these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. In response, the US-led coalition has conducted numerous airstrikes against Houthi targets to prevent further attacks on commercial vessels and to maintain the freedom of international shipping in the region.
Despite these efforts, the Houthis have vowed to escalate their attacks until Israel halts its offensive in Gaza. Since the Yemeni civil war began in late 2014, the Houthi group has maintained control over several northern Yemeni provinces, including the strategic port city of Hodeidah.
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