Illustrative image.
Yemen’s Houthis (Ansar Allah) on August 22 claimed responsibility for recent attacks that targeted two merchant vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.
“In support of Palestinians in Gaza and in response to American-British aggression against our country, we carried out two military operations in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden,” Houthi military spokesman Brigade General Yahya Sarea said in a statement.
The spokesman said that the Greek-flagged Sounion oil tanker was targeted “because the company that operates it dealt with the Israeli enemy,” noting that the vessel was “accurately and directly hit while sailing in the Red Sea and is at risk of sinking.”
The Panama-flagged vessel SW North Wind I was also targeted because it is “owned by a company that deals with the Israeli enemy,” Brig. Gen. Sarea said, adding that the ship “was directly and accurately hit while sailing in the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.”
The two vessels were targeted using drones, unmanned suicide boats as well as ballistic and cruise anti-ship missiles, according to the spokesman.
“The Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that they will continue to impose a naval blockade on the Israeli enemy and target all ships linked to it or belonging to companies dealing with it in the area of military operations announced in previous statements,” Brig. Gen. Sarea said. “The operations of the Yemeni Armed Forces will not stop until the aggression is stopped and the blockade on our brothers in the Gaza Strip is lifted.”
Both Sounion and SW North Wind I were targeted on August 21 and 22. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed that Sounion was hit by multiple projectiles and was abandoned by its crew. However, the Royal Navy office said that SW North Wind I sustained minor damage only.
Separately, the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) announced on August 23 that its forces intercepted two Houthi drones over the Red Sea and destroyed another in a Houthi-held area of Yemen a day earlier.
“It was determined these UAVs [unmanned aerial vehicle] presented a clear and imminent threat to U.S. and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region,” CENTCOM said in a statement. “This action was taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for U.S., coalition, and merchant vessels.”
Since November, the Houthis have attacked dozens of vessels affiliated with Israel or owned by the U.S. and the UK in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea in response to the Israeli war and siege on Gaza.
In addition, the group launched dozens of drones and missiles at Israel and shot down six American-made combat drones over Yemen and nearby waters.
The U.S. and the UK have carried out hundreds of strikes against Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen since January in an attempt to deter the group. Israel also launched an attack against al-Hodeidah last month after a deadly Houthi drone strike on the city of Tel Aviv. However, the group remains undeterred.
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great balls of fire! ansarallah warriors clearlythumbing the nose at the nth time at the murdering ziouza and ziouk complicit in the palestinian holocaust .
might not be long before russia leases a wing of mig31 to the houthis and in the spirit of nato mercenary fukkery, dress the pilots like houthis and put houthi flags on the migs, and shoot down the us and uk war planes in a little “surprise” treat for the terrorists. start a ‘ghost of hodida’ myth to rally the houthis moral and shame the israelis all the more to trigger them into making bigger mistakes.