TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Authorities reported that a ship traveling through the southern Red Sea was targeted in a suspected Yemen Houthi rebel drone attack early Tuesday. This comes as the latest in a series of assaults against vessels due to Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The attack took place west of Hodeida, Yemen, and caused slight damage to the vessel’s bridge windows, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. Prior to the attack, a small vessel was observed near the ship. The private security firm Ambrey identified the targeted vessel as a Barbados-flagged, United Kingdom-owned cargo ship. Although the vessel sustained minor damage, no injuries were reported among its crew.
No specific group has claimed responsibility for the attack. However, suspicions have immediately centered on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen.
Since November, these rebels have repeatedly attacked ships in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s offensive in Gaza against Hamas. However, they have often targeted vessels with little or no apparent connection to Israel, posing a threat to shipping in a crucial trade route linking Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In recent weeks, the U.S. and the United Kingdom, along with other allies, have carried out airstrikes targeting Houthi missile arsenals and launch sites used for the rebel group’s attacks. Over the weekend, the U.S. and Britain struck 36 Houthi targets in Yemen. Additionally, an air assault in Iraq and Syria on Friday targeted other Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a drone strike that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. troops in Jordan.
The U.S. military’s Central Command also confirmed an attack on the Houthis on Monday, in which it was reported that two Houthi drone boats loaded with explosives were neutralized. According to the military, American forces deemed these actions necessary to protect U.S. Navy ships and commercial vessels in the region, ensuring freedom of navigation and enhancing the safety and security of international waters.___Associated Press writer Lolita C. Baldor in Washington contributed to this report.
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