1/19/2024–|Last updated: 1/19/202404:25 AM (Mecca time)
The “Houthi” group in Yemen announced that an American ship was targeted and directly hit in the Gulf of Aden, while an American official confirmed the attack but denied that the ship was exposed to any damage.
The military spokesman for Ansar Allah “Houthis”, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said on the “X” platform that the group’s fighters targeted the American ship “Kim Ranger” with naval missiles in the Gulf of Aden and hit it directly.
The spokesman added that the response to what he described as American and British attacks is “inevitably coming,” as he put it.
Sarie reiterated “the continuation of navigation traffic in the Arab and Red Bahrain to all destinations except the ports of occupied Palestine.”
A statement issued by the Yemeni Armed Forces
In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful
God Almighty said: {And fight in the cause of God those who fight you, but do not transgress. Indeed, God does not like aggressors.} God Almighty has spoken the truth.With the help of God Almighty and a victory for the oppression of the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip… pic.twitter.com/FjvdybaBgG
– Brigadier General Yahya Saree (@army21ye) January 18, 2024
For his part, an American official confirmed to Tel Aviv Tribune that an American ship flying the flag of the Marshall Islands was attacked in the Gulf of Aden from areas controlled by the Houthis.
The official said that the chemical carrier “Kim Ranger” was attacked by two Houthi missiles, which did not result in it being damaged, and that no damage or injuries were recorded on board the ship, which continued sailing in the Gulf of Aden.
Earlier Thursday, the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority said that it had received a report about an incident 115 nautical miles southeast of the city of Aden in Yemen, and added in a warning note that the authorities were investigating the matter.
For its part, Embrey Maritime Security said in a memorandum that a chemical products tanker flying the flag of the Marshall Islands reported what was described as a “suspicious approach” of drones southeast of Aden.
During the past weeks, the Houthis in Yemen launched attacks on ships in the Red Sea that they said were linked to Israel and American ships that support Tel Aviv in its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
On the other hand, the United States and Britain launched several rounds of raids against Houthi sites in Yemen, which they said targeted the group’s missile capabilities to protect global shipping traffic in the region.
Last Wednesday, Washington announced the re-listing of the Houthis in Yemen as a “global terrorist organization,” in light of the recent attacks launched by the group on ships in the Red Sea.