Three Suspected Houthi Attacks Target Ship Off Yemen Coast

Authorities reported that three suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the vital Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Gulf of Aden to the Red Sea. These attacks, which occurred on Thursday and Friday, included one incident where private security guards successfully shot and destroyed a bomb-laden drone boat.

While the Houthis did not immediately claim responsibility, the attacks are part of a broader campaign by the rebels targeting shipping routes in the Red Sea, in response to Israel’s conflict with Hamas in Gaza. After a brief pause in their operations, the Houthis resumed their assaults following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, amidst growing concerns of a wider regional conflict. Iran supports the Houthis as part of a broader regional alliance known as the “Axis of Resistance.”

Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi warned of continued operations targeting Israel and coordination with regional allies, asserting that their response is a collective decision across the Axis.

The first of the three attacks saw a rocket-propelled grenade explode near the ship, launched by two smaller boats with men onboard wearing distinctive raincoats. The second attack occurred early Friday when a missile exploded close to the vessel, though no injuries were reported. In the third attack, private security guards aboard the ship successfully intercepted and destroyed a drone boat.

Though the Houthis have targeted over 70 vessels since the start of the Israel-Hamas conflict, not all have had direct connections to the war. Their campaign has disrupted $1 trillion worth of goods flowing through the region annually and has resulted in some of the most intense naval combat seen by the U.S. Navy since World War II.

Additionally, U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor fighter jets arrived in the Middle East to address threats posed by Iran and Iranian-backed groups, including the Houthis. U.S. Central Command later confirmed the destruction of Houthi anti-ship cruise missiles, a ground control station, and a drone boat in the Red Sea.