A ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden was attacked on Thursday, likely by Yemen's Houthi rebels amidst Israel's ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. This incident follows a recent assault where a Houthi missile targeting a vessel was shot down by an allied warship in the same area.
The attack occurred just over 25 kilometers southwest of Aden, as reported by the UK Maritime Trade Operations center. The captain of the ship reported hearing a loud bang, seeing a splash, and smoke rising from the sea. Fortunately, all crew members are safe.
While the Houthis have not immediately claimed responsibility for this attack, they have been involved in over 50 attacks on shipping since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration. However, recent weeks have seen a decrease in Houthi attacks due to increased targeting by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen.
Despite the decline in attacks, Wednesday's incident marked a resurgence in rebel activity, with a missile striking a location southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden. The U.S. military's Central Command confirmed that a coalition warship intercepted the missile, likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged vessel with no reported injuries or damage.
Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the attack, alleging that the missile hit the Yorktown and targeting another ship in the Indian Ocean. However, the Houthis have a history of making unverified claims during the ongoing conflict in Yemen.
The Houthis have vowed to continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which has resulted in significant casualties. While most targeted ships have had no direct connection to the conflict, the rebels have also launched missiles towards Israel, with limited success.
