Houthis Strike Commercial Ship, Israeli Red Sea Port City
Yemen’s Houthi rebels claimed responsibility Tuesday for attacks on a commercial ship and the Israeli port city of Eilat, on the Red Sea. Houthi military spokesman Yehya Sarea, in a live broadcast by al-Masirah TV, stated that the naval forces targeted the container ship MSC United VIII with missiles after it ignored their communication attempts. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported two explosions near a cargo ship in the Red Sea, close to Yemen’s Al Hudaydah Port, under Houthi control.
Additionally, the Houthis launched an attack on Eilat using suicide drones, which was countered by the Israeli military. Footage showed an Israeli aircraft intercepting a target near the Red Sea. No casualties or damage have been reported from either attack.
These incidents follow a series of attacks by the Houthis on cargo ships in the Red Sea amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. The group has threatened the US and its allies, demanding the withdrawal of battleships from the Red Sea. In response, the US established a 20-nation naval task force to address Houthi missile and drone attacks in the area.
The Houthis, controlling a significant portion of northern Yemen, including Sanaa and Al Hudaydah, have intensified attacks on Israel-linked ships, calling for an end to Israeli actions in Gaza and the delivery of supplies to the region.
