Yemen’s Huthi rebels have asserted responsibility for an attack on a US ship in the Gulf of Aden early Friday.
The incident comes on the heels of the United States launching strikes against rebel targets due to their aggression towards vessels in and around the Red Sea.
The Huthis, backed by Iran, insist that their naval forces successfully targeted the Chem Ranger, a commercial vessel sailing from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Kuwait. According to their statement on social media, they utilised “appropriate naval missiles” that resulted in direct hits. However, the US military, in a counter statement, revealed that the rebel group’s missiles had, in fact, missed their intended mark.
The targeted ship, M/V Chem Ranger, a Marshall Island-flagged tanker owned by the US and operated by a Greek company, reportedly witnessed the missiles impacting the water nearby. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or damage to the vessel. The crew remains unharmed.
This latest assault is part of a series of attacks by the Huthis on shipping in the waters around Yemen, escalating since the eruption of the conflict in Gaza on October 7. The rebel statement cites their actions as a response to what they perceive as “American-British aggression” and their solidarity with the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Despite recent US counterstrikes, President Joe Biden acknowledges that the Huthi attacks persist. The US National Security Council and Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary have confirmed targeted strikes on Huthi anti-ship missiles, asserting the degradation and disruption of the rebel group’s capabilities. Major shipping firms have diverted their routes away from the area due to safety concerns.
The international community’s response varies, with Denmark joining the coalition supporting air strikes against the Huthis, while Russia calls for a halt to the aggression, emphasizing the importance of diplomatic resolutions.