An American Official: Houthi Rebels in Yemen Attacked Two Ships in the Red Sea

An American defense official told Reuters that the Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by the Islamic Republic, attacked two ships flying the Liberian flag in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait on Friday, December 15. According to this official, a projectile believed to be a drone hit the German ship "Al-Jasra," causing a fire, but it did not sustain damage. The official stated that in the second attack, two ballistic missiles were fired, one of which hit a ship and caused a fire that the crew attempted to extinguish. The official, without naming the ship, said that a U.S. Navy destroyer was on its way to assist the vessel. According to Reuters, no one has claimed responsibility for these attacks. However, the Houthi group, supported by the Islamic Republic, has claimed responsibility for missile attacks on several ships in the Red Sea and the Bab el-Mandeb Strait since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. A spokesperson for "Hapag-Lloyd," the German company that owns "Al-Jasra," said that the ship was attacked while moving near the shores of Yemen. He added without further comment that "Hapag-Lloyd will take additional measures to ensure the safety of its crew." At least two other shipping incidents were reported in the area on Friday, according to Reuters. "Ambrey," a British maritime security company, reported that a Liberian-flagged cargo ship was ordered to change course by individuals identified as members of the Houthi movement in a small boat. A spokesperson for the company said no attack occurred on this ship and did not provide further comments. "Ambrey" reported that in another incident, a Swiss-flagged cargo ship was targeted while moving north about 35 kilometers southwest of the port city of Mokha in the Taiz province of Yemen. The spokesperson declined to comment further to Reuters. According to "Ambrey," this ship, which was heading toward Saudi Arabia, received a similar warning to the other ship. The company did not specify who targeted it. The Houthis, who control a large part of Yemen, have threatened to continue their attacks in the region until Israel stops its assaults on the Gaza Strip. Additionally, Reuters reported that late Thursday, the Houthis claimed to have targeted a cargo ship belonging to the Danish company "Maersk" with a drone. However, the company denied this claim, stating that the ship was not hit. Tim Lenderking, the U.S. special envoy for Yemen, told Reuters on Thursday that Washington seeks to form "the broadest possible maritime coalition" to protect ships in the Red Sea, sending a message to the Houthis that their attacks will not be tolerated. Meanwhile, the Axios website reported on Thursday, December 14, citing two American officials, that the Biden administration has sent messages to the Houthis through Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman, warning the group about continuing its attacks.