The Gulf of Aden was the site of a recent attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels on a ship traveling in the region. This incident followed a previous attack in which an allied warship intercepted a Houthi missile targeting another vessel in the same area. The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip has been cited as a motivation for these attacks, with the Houthis claiming to target ships in response to Israel’s actions. Despite a decrease in rebel attacks in recent weeks due to a U.S.-led airstrike campaign and decreased shipping in the region, the latest assault shows that the threat from Houthi rebels remains present.
The ship targeted in Thursday’s attack was located southwest of Aden, with the captain reporting a loud bang and smoke coming from the sea. Fortunately, all crew members onboard were reported safe. The Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, identifying the ship they targeted as the MSC Darwin. European Union forces also shot down a drone launched from Houthi territory on the same day. This incident comes after a British warship destroyed a Houthi missile targeting merchant ships, marking the first time the Royal Navy has done so since 1991.
Despite the decrease in rebel attacks in recent weeks, the Houthi rebels have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel, and sank another since November. American officials have speculated that the rebels may be running out of weapons due to the U.S.-led campaign targeting them. The rebels have been firing drones and missiles steadily in the last months as a result. However, the attack on Thursday shows that the threat from the rebels persists, and they have stated they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza. Most of the ships targeted by the rebels have had little connection to the conflict in Gaza, indicating a broader campaign aimed at disrupting shipping in the region.
The U.S. military’s Central Command confirmed that the explosion in the Gulf of Aden was caused by a coalition warship shooting down the missile, likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged vessel. The Houthis have made claims without evidence that the missile hit the Yorktown and targeted another ship in the Indian Ocean. The rebels have been known to make repeated false claims during their conflict in Yemen. Despite the ongoing attacks by the Houthis, efforts are being made to ensure the safety of commercial ships in the region, with coalition warships intercepting missiles and drones launched by the rebels. The situation remains volatile as the conflict between the Houthi rebels and coalition forces continues to escalate.
