In a televised address on September 2, Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree announced that the Yemeni Armed Forces used a cruise missile and two drones to target a container ship. The group accused the vessel of violating a ban on ships conducting business with Israeli ports.
The Houthi Ban on Israeli-Linked Shipping
The incident is part of a broader campaign by the Houthis, who in late July pledged to target ships from any company that conducts business with Israeli ports. The Houthi movement states these attacks are in solidarity with Palestinians and are intended to pressure Israel to ease restrictions on the Gaza Strip.
Status of the Vessel
While the Houthis claimed a successful attack, independent reports indicate that the ship reached its destination in Saudi Arabia without any reported damage. The claims of the attack could not be immediately verified by maritime sources.
The alleged attack follows other recent Houthi actions, including a reported missile attack on another vessel. The escalation in Houthi activity comes after a period of relative calm and follows an Israeli airstrike in the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa that killed a number of Houthi officials.
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Source: Safety4sea
