Houthi militia in Yemen claimed on Sunday (June 16) that they had attacked two civilian ships and a U.S. destroyer in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, marking their latest move to disrupt the shipping lanes in the region. The group stated that these attacks were launched in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.
Yahya Saree, a spokesman for the Houthi militia, said in a statement that the group had fired a ballistic missile at a U.S. destroyer, launched naval missiles at a civilian ship named “Captain Paris,” and carried out a drone attack on a vessel named “Happy Condor.” It is currently unclear whether any targets were hit.
Earlier on Sunday, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) affiliated with the British military reported that a ship located 40 nautical miles south of Mukha in Yemen had witnessed two explosions nearby. The organization stated that the ship and its crew were safe and continuing their voyage, but did not specify which ship was involved.
The Houthi militia, aligned with Iran, controls the capital of Yemen and the majority of populated areas in the country. Since November last year, the group has launched dozens of attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea region to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza conflict.
These attacks have forced shipowners to alter their routes, avoiding the Suez Canal, disrupting global trade. The United States and the United Kingdom have been conducting escort missions in the area since February to combat the Houthi militia and protect the shipping lanes.