Yemen's Houthis claim fresh missile attacks on 3 ships

SANAA — Yemen's Houthi group on Thursday claimed responsibility for missile attacks against three ships in the Arabian Sea and Red Sea.

"The first attack targeted the vessel Verbena in the Arabian Sea, causing damage and a fire on board," Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement, adding that the other two attacks struck the Seaguardian and Athina ships in the Red Sea.

"All attacks were carried out with several ballistic and naval missiles and drones and achieved their goals successfully."

The United States Central Command said a Palauan-flagged, Ukrainian-owned and Polish-operated ship reported damage and subsequent fires on board.

"The crew continues to fight the fire. One civilian mariner was severely injured during the attack," it said.

Meanwhile, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported an explosion close to a merchant vessel in the Red Sea northwest of the Houthi-held Hodeidah port, with no damage or casualties.

Since November, the Houthi group, which controls much of northern Yemen, has initiated the launch of anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what it said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the US-British naval coalition stationed in the area has conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets since January to deter the group, which, however, only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include US and British commercial vessels and naval ships.

Thursday's attack marked their second direct hit on a merchant ship in two days, and the group said its campaign would continue until hostilities in the Gaza Strip end.

A day earlier, Houthi militants took responsibility for small watercraft and missile attacks that left the Tutor, a Greek-owned cargo ship, taking in water and in need of rescue near Yemen's Red Sea port of Hodeidah.

Xinhua - Agencies