On April 24, the Iran-backed Houthi militia announced that they targeted Israeli and American ships by firing an anti-ship ballistic missile over the Gulf of Aden.
According to a statement from the U.S. Central Command: “A coalition vessel successfully engaged one anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) launched from Iranian-backed Houthi terrorist-controlled areas in Yemen over the Gulf of Aden.
“The ASBM was likely targeting the MV Yorktown, a U.S.-flagged, owned, and operated vessel with 18 U.S. and four Greek crew members. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships. Separately, between 12:07 pm and 1:26 pm, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) successfully engaged and destroyed four airborne unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) over Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.”
A warship forming part of an American-led coalition protecting shipping in the Middle East intercepted the Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile, leading to an explosion around 130 kilometers (80 miles) southeast of Djibouti in the Gulf of Aden, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated on April 24 that Houthi militants in Yemen attacked U.S. ship Maersk Yorktown, an American destroyer in the Gulf of Aden and Israeli ship MSC Veracruz in the Indian Ocean.
Additionally, British maritime security firm Ambrey said on April 24 that it knew of an incident southwest of the port city of Aden, an area where the Houthis often target ships they claimed are connected to Israel or the U.S.
The Houthi-led assaults came amid Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and deteriorating Israeli-Iranian ties. Notably, the Houthis have conducted over 50 attacks on ships, seized one vessel and sank another since November, based on the U.S. Maritime Administration.
The Houthis, an Iran-backed rebel group based in Yemen, which considers Israel an enemy, began attacking merchant vessels in November 2023, saying they were responding to Israel’s military operation in Gaza. Since then, the group has launched attacks on commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea, one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes.
According to IMF, Houthi attacks have disrupted global trade, with Suez Canal trade dropping by 50 percent from a year earlier in the first two months of 2024 owing to trade diversions to the Cape of Good Hope. Also, trade through the Panama Canal plummeted by 32 percent.
The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea region since November last year in what they termed as a show of solidarity with Palestinians combating Israel in Gaza. However, many of the vessels targeted by the Houthis have little or no links with Israel. The Houthis have increasingly targeted vessels related to UK and U.S. owners and operators, in retaliation for American and British air strikes on Houthi positions.
The Houthis have become more brazen over the past few months in their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, which have reduced traffic through the Suez Canal, the shortest maritime route between Asia and Europe, through which about 15 percent of global maritime trade volume normally passes. Instead, shipping companies have diverted their ships around the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in expensive detours and additional costs.
Attacks have dropped in recent weeks as the Houthis have been targeted by a U.S.-led airstrike campaign in Yemen and there were speculations by American officials that they may be running out of weapons. Nonetheless, the Houthis have said they will continue their attacks until Israel ends its war in Gaza, which started after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 250 hostages.
Photo credit: iStock/ vchal. Missiles with Iran flag in background. 3D rendered illustration.
