Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi armed group has launched a series of attacks on US and Israeli vessels in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean, prompting a Western coalition of warships to defend against the strikes amid the ongoing fallout from the war in Gaza. The Houthis, who support the Palestinian armed group Hamas, claim their attacks on vessels near their shores aim to stop Israel's war on Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children.
Yahya Saree, the Houthis' military spokesman, claimed in a video address late on Wednesday that the group had hit the Maersk Yorktown cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden and targeted the Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean, as well as launching projectiles at a US warship. The US military confirmed that the Houthis had launched an antiship ballistic missile towards the Maersk Yorktown, a "US-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 US and four Greek crew members," but reported no injuries or damage to US, coalition, or commercial ships.
In response to the Houthi attacks, the US military said that within two hours of the strike on the Maersk Yorktown, its forces had "successfully engaged and destroyed" four drones over Yemen. "These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels," the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated.
The Houthis have gradually expanded their attacks from Israeli-linked ships to US and UK-owned commercial vessels and warships, as Washington mobilized a maritime coalition to defend against the strikes and, along with the British military, targeted Yemeni soil with numerous air raids. According to the US Maritime Administration, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping since November, in addition to seizing a commercial vessel in November and sinking a UK-owned ship in March.
The frequency of Houthi strikes has reduced in recent months, as the group appears to have exhausted its stockpiles of missiles and drones after dozens of attacks while suffering from US and UK air raids. However, on Thursday, another ship traveling in the Gulf of Aden came under attack, with officials suggesting that it was likely carried out by the Houthis. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) center reported that the captain of the targeted vessel heard a loud bang and saw a splash and smoke coming from the sea, although the vessel and all crew were reported safe.
The ongoing Houthi attacks have forced many vessels to opt against passing through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal route, instead taking the longer and more expensive journey around Southern Africa. This has added weeks to their travel time and increased costs for shipping companies.
The Houthis have stated that they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking some 250 others hostage. Most of the ships targeted by the Houthis have had little or no direct connection to Israel, the US, or other nations involved in the war. The rebels have also fired missiles toward Israel, though they have largely fallen short or been intercepted.
