The Houthis, an Iranian-backed Yemeni rebel group, claimed Tuesday to have launched a missile at a ship in the Red Sea and carried out a drone attack towards Israel. The rebels, who say they are in solidarity with the Hamas terrorist movement in its war against Israel in the Gaza Strip, assured in a statement that they had “carried out a targeted operation against a commercial ship” identified as the MSC UNITED, and had launched ” drones against military targets” in southern Israel.
The Israeli army said it had intercepted “a hostile aerial target” heading towards its territory. Since the start of the war on October 7 between Hamas and Israel in Gaza, the Houthis have increased attacks in the Red Sea against ships sailing off the coast of Yemen with alleged links to Israel, in solidarity with Gaza. In recent weeks, several missiles and drones have been shot down by American, French and British warships patrolling the area.
Explosions heard near Hodeida
According to the Pentagon, the Houthis, who control entire swathes of Yemeni territory, including the capital Sanaa, have already launched around a hundred drone and missile attacks, targeting a total of 10 merchant ships involving more than 35 countries. These attacks, which threaten to disrupt global maritime trade flows on a strategic route, have prompted the United States to establish a multinational maritime protection force in the Red Sea.
Earlier in the day, explosions were heard and missiles seen near a ship in the Red Sea near the rebel-held western port of Hodeida, the maritime security agency said British UKMTO, without reporting any casualties or damage. Two other explosions sounded shortly before near another ship, again off the coast of Hodeida, the British maritime agency said, without reporting any damage or casualties. The boat continued its journey.