The US military and Yemen’s Houthi rebels have engaged in conflicting claims of successful strikes, heightening tensions in their ongoing conflict over Red Sea shipping lanes.
The recent exchanges involved a US airstrike targeting a Houthi missile in Yemen, reportedly set to launch. In response, the Houthis claimed an “accurate and direct” missile strike against a cargo ship in the Red Sea.
The US Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that a surface-to-air missile in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen was destroyed in a Wednesday afternoon airstrike. CENTCOM justified the action by citing an imminent threat to US aircraft. The Houthis confirmed the US strike, specifying the missile’s location as Saada in northern Yemen.
Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree asserted that several naval missiles targeted the KOI merchant vessel, identified as American and allegedly en route to Israel. The Liberian-flagged container ship is registered to Oceonix Services Ltd., associated with a unit of JPMorgan Chase & Co.
Saree claimed the attack on the merchant ship occurred after the Houthis launched missiles against the USS Gravely destroyer in the Red Sea. CENTCOM had earlier stated that the USS Gravely intercepted a cruise missile over the Red Sea on Tuesday night.
These developments unfold amid an escalating conflict between US forces in the Middle East and various militant groups in the region. The Houthis, along with other militias, have reportedly conducted numerous attacks against US military assets and shipping interests since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.
Houthi spokesman Saree warned of retaliation, stating that the group would confront any American-British escalation with its own, targeting US and UK ships in the Red and Arabian Seas. He emphasized the Houthis’ commitment to fighting in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, attributed a recent drone strike that killed three US troops and injured over 40 to the “Iranian-backed” Islamic Resistance in Iraq. While stating that the US is preparing a multifaceted response, Kirby reiterated the Biden administration’s intent to avoid a broader war with Iran.
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