Yemen’s Houthi rebels damage ship in missile attack, crew forced to abandon; US conducts airstrikes

Missile Attack by Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Damages Ship in Bab el-Mandeb Strait

Ship Abandoned by Crew Following Houthi Attack

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a Belize-flagged ship in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait has forced the crew to abandon the vessel, authorities reported on Monday. The missile attack, which damaged the ship, occurred in the strait connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Houthi Rebels Claim Shooting Down American Drone

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels have also claimed that they shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. While the United States military in the region did not immediately acknowledge the incident, the Houthis have previously shot down U.S. drones. The rebels have downed American drones in the past.

U.S. Military Conducts Airstrikes Targeting Rebels

The U.S. military has responded to the Houthi attack by conducting new airstrikes targeted at the rebels. One such airstrike targeted the first Houthi underwater drone seen since they started launching attacks on international shipping in November.

Ship Targeted by Houthi Attack Abandoned by Crew

The ship that was targeted by the Houthi attack reported sustaining damage after an explosion near the vessel. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center, which is operated by the British military, reported that the crew has abandoned the ship and that the vessel is currently at anchor.

Recent Attacks on Shipping by Houthi Rebels

The Houthi rebels have been increasingly targeting ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters since November. Their attacks have jeopardized shipping in a vital trade route connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. The rebels have targeted ships without clear links to Israel, even endangering vessels carrying cargo for Iran, a major benefactor of the rebels.

Houthi Rebels Also Claim Shooting Down an MQ-9 Drone

Separately, Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed that Houthi forces shot down an MQ-9 drone near the port city of Hodeida on the Red Sea. The U.S. military has not yet confirmed the loss of any drones in the region, although the rebels have previously used their surface-to-air missile systems to down American drones. The Pentagon has acknowledged the loss of MQ-9 drones in the past.

U.S. Military Carries Out Airstrikes Against Houthi Military Equipment

As a response to the Houthi attacks, the U.S. military’s Central Command reported conducting five airstrikes targeting Houthi military equipment. The airstrikes targeted mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, an explosive-carrying drone boat, and an unmanned underwater vessel. This marks the first observed Houthi deployment of an unmanned underwater vessel since the attacks on shipping began in October.