Published: 09:40, April 25, 2024
Yemen's Houthis claim targeting US, Israeli ships
By Xinhua
Houthi fighters march during a rally of support for the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and against the US strikes on Yemen outside Sanaa on Jan 22, 2024. (PHOTO / AP)

SANAA — Yemen's Houthi group on Wednesday claimed responsibility for launching three attacks, targeting two US ships in the Gulf of Aden and an Israeli ship in the Indian Ocean.

"In support of the Palestinian people in Gaza, and in response to the American-British aggression against our country (Yemen), our naval forces carried out a military operation targeting the American ship (MAERSK YORKTOWN) in the Gulf of Aden, with a number of suitable naval missiles, and the hit was accurate," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement aired by Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an explosion near a ship in the Gulf of Aden, which it said caused no damage or casualties

"We also carried out other two military operations using bomb-laden drones, one of which targeted an American warship in the Gulf of Aden, with a number of drones, and the other operation targeted the Israeli ship (MSC VERACRUZ) in the Indian Ocean with a number of drones. Both operations achieved their goals successfully," he said without specifying the date of those attacks.

READ MORE: Yemen's Houthi leader renews threats to attack US, UK ships

"We confirm that we will continue to prevent Israeli ships or any ship heading to Israel from transiting the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean until the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza is stopped and the siege is lifted," Sarea said, vowing that his group would take more actions in the coming days.

Earlier in the day, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an explosion near a ship in the Gulf of Aden, which it said caused no damage or casualties.

In response to the Houthi attacks, the United States and Britain launched a joint military operation in January, conducting air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

The Houthi group has been controlling much of northern Yemen since the Yemeni civil war erupted in late 2014.

After the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct 7, 2023, the Houthi group declared its support for Hamas and began attacking ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea in November.

In response to the Houthi attacks, the United States and Britain launched a joint military operation in January, conducting air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen.

READ MORE: Houthis claim missile attacks after fresh US-British airstrikes

Following the military action by Washington and London, the Houthi group vowed retaliation and expanded its targeting to include US and British ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.