Yemen’s Houthi group announced that they conducted military operations targeting four ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, Mediterranean Sea, and Indian Ocean in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
The group’s military spokesman, Yahya Saree, stated that their fighters used cruise missiles to hit vessels “linked with the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel,” achieving direct hits.
The statement detailed attacks on 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, though the last ship’s country of association was not specified.
The Houthis have been targeting ships that are Israeli-owned, flagged, operated, or headed to Israeli ports with missiles and drones in solidarity with Gaza, which has been under intense Israeli attacks since October 7.
In response to US and UK retaliatory airstrikes on Houthi sites in Yemen, the Houthis declared that they now consider all American and British ships to be military targets.
U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces have conducted a self-defense operation, successfully destroying three Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) in the Red Sea.
The USVs were deemed an imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, as well as merchant vessels in the area. This action was taken to safeguard freedom of navigation and enhance the safety and security of international waters.
USCENTCOM emphasized that the Iranian-backed Houthis’ ongoing malign and reckless activities pose a significant threat to regional stability and endanger the lives of mariners in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.