Houthis again attack US ship as Red Sea tensions escalate

The Houthis have again targeted a US ship, intensifying the ongoing naval conflict in a worrying escalation of tensions in the Red Sea.

The attack, claimed by the Yemeni group on Friday, follows recent retaliatory strikes by the United States against Houthi positions in response to their aggressive actions against vessels in the region.

The Houthis, said to be backed by Iran, have claimed responsibility for a precision targeting operation against a US vessel identified as the Chem Ranger in the Gulf of Aden.

According to the Yemeni group, their naval forces successfully carried out an operation using several naval missiles, resulting in what they claimed were direct hits on a commercial ship. However, the US military disputed the claims, saying the Houthi missiles missed their intended target.

The US Central Command, responsible for the Middle East, revealed that the Houthis fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles at a Greek tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands. Fortunately, the crew reported no injuries and the ship sustained no damage when the missiles hit the water nearby.

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The latest attack adds to a series of attacks by the Houthis on shipping in the waters around Yemen since the Gaza conflict broke out on October 7. The rebels have justified their actions by citing the “oppression of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip” and a response to what they perceive as US-British aggression against Yemen.

Despite recent US counterstrikes, Houthi attacks continue. President Joe Biden acknowledged the continuing threat, saying, “Will they continue? Yes.” US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby explained that the attacks targeted anti-ship missiles ready for immediate use in the southern Red Sea. The airstrikes, which have been ongoing for the past week, have reportedly disrupted and degraded the Houthis’ capabilities.

As the situation escalates, major shipping companies are diverting vessels away from the region due to heightened security concerns.