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Sana In the latest developments, Yemen's Houthis have launched another attack, damaging an oil tanker and shooting down a US drone amid rising tensions over Israel's offensive in Gaza, reports suggest. Yes, Al Jazeera reported. In his latest televised address, Houthis military spokesman Yahya Sari claimed responsibility for targeting the “British oil ship Andromeda Star” in the Red Sea with naval missiles. According to US Central Command (CENTCOM), the ship suffered minor damage but is continuing its voyage without any hindrance.
No injuries were reported among the maritime military coalition deployed in the area to counter such attacks.
Saari also announced the downing of an MQ-9 Reaper drone operated by the US military, saying it was shot down while conducting hostile missions in the airspace of Yemen's Saada Governorate. According to Al Jazeera, the US military has not yet commented on the incident, but CBS News has confirmed the crash of an MQ-9 inside Yemen, sparking an ongoing investigation.
It is the third US drone shot down by the Houthis since the beginning of the conflict in Gaza, with previous incidents occurring in November and February. Despite this, the Houthis have remained silent on further attacks against ships in nearby waters, although the US military has reported firing anti-ship missiles at the MV MAISH, a ship flying the Antigua/Barbados flag.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed two attacks on a ship, possibly the MV Andromeda Star, near Al-Mukha (Mocha) in Yemen. The first explosion occurred close to the ship, followed by a second attack involving two missiles, resulting in damage.
The Houthi military's latest activity comes after they claimed to have targeted the “Israeli ship MSC Darwin” in the Gulf of Aden and launched missiles and drones at targets in Israel's southern port city of Eilat. Earlier, they had attacked the US-flagged Maersk Yorktown and the Israeli-affiliated MSC Veracruz, prompting a defensive response from US and UK warships.
The group's leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi rejected suggestions of reduced military capabilities, and said more attacks were imminent. Addressing protesters in Sanaa and beyond, he announced a new stage of confrontation in which ships in the Indian Ocean will also be targeted, Al Jazeera reports.
The Houthis have vowed to end their attacks on one of the world's busiest sea routes if Israel halts its offensive in Gaza. These attacks have not only disrupted global trade but also affected traffic at Israel's Eilat port.
In Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, mass protests have been a weekly occurrence since the conflict began, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israel and its allies. Initially focused on ships belonging to Israel in the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, the Houthis have broadened their targets to include US and UK ships following military actions by Washington and London in Yemen.
Houthi-run media reported millions of people joining demonstrations across Yemen, highlighting widespread support for their cause, Al Jazeera reported.