Yemen’s Islamist Houthi rebels made an assertion this Tuesday about their responsibility for an attack on a commercial ship, continuing a trend of similar attacks against international shipments in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Spokesman Yahya Saree announced that Houthi sea forces had conducted a missile attack targeting the Mediterranean Shipping Company container ship MSC United, which was en route to Pakistan from Saudi Arabia at the time of the attack.
Saree claimed that the Houthi forces had given various warnings to the MSC United crew before the attack, which were ignored. The Mediterranean Shipping Company confirmed the attack and said all crew members were safe, although the company was still evaluating the damage incurred. Additionally, Saree confirmed that Houthi forces had also launched drone and missile attacks targeting the Israeli Red Sea port city of Eilat the same day.
The Houthi movement, which has intermittently fought with Yemen’s internationally recognized government since 2004, took over the Yemeni capital of Sanaa in 2014, sparking a civil war that has involved military intervention by Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states. The movement is believed to be backed by Iran and has focused its apparent military efforts on the conflict in Gaza. Recent Houthi attacks have led to international shipping firms like Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd pausing some traffic through the Red Sea.
The Houthi movement has stated that they will continue targeting Israeli maritime ships in the Red Sea as part of a pressure campaign to increase humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip. These attacks have contributed to conflicts among allied nations over international maritime security efforts, including a U.S.-led Red Sea maritime security mission called “Operation Prosperity Guardian.”