Houthis Claim to Have Conducted Six Operations in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean

On Saturday, June 1, the military spokesperson for the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen announced the execution of six operations, including targeting an American aircraft carrier, an American destroyer, and three ships in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean. The Houthi militants have been attacking ships in the Red Sea for months, claiming that their aim is to show solidarity with the Palestinians in Gaza. Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for the group, stated that the American aircraft carrier "Eisenhower" was targeted in the northern Red Sea with several missiles and drones, marking the second targeting operation against this carrier in the past 24 hours. He added that other operations included attacks on an American destroyer and the ship "Abiliani" in the Red Sea, as well as the ship "Mina," which was targeted twice in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. The Iran-backed Houthis threatened on Friday, June 1, to escalate attacks on Red Sea vessels in response to joint American and British strikes on their positions. The Houthi military spokesperson had claimed the day before that they attacked the American aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea, but a U.S. defense official told Reuters that they were unaware of any attack on the Eisenhower. Concurrently, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that the Iran-backed Houthis launched a drone towards the Red Sea, adding that no damage or casualties were reported from American, coalition, or commercial vessels. CENTCOM also stated that two anti-ship ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards the Gulf of Aden, but no casualties or damage were reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial vessels. With tensions escalating with the Houthis, U.S. officials announced that the aircraft carrier strike group, which has been conducting significant operations against them to protect military and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden for months, will remain in the region for at least another month. The Houthi rebels have jeopardized the security of international trade and sailors by attacking commercial vessels passing through the Red Sea. Western experts have repeatedly accused the Islamic Republic of Iran of endangering the security of the region by supplying weapons to rebel and non-state forces across the Middle East and attempting to destabilize other governments. The Tasnim news agency, close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, acknowledged in a report on May 30 that the Iranian government had provided "Qadr" anti-ship ballistic missiles to the Houthi rebels in Yemen. The escalation of tensions with the Houthis; the U.S. extends the mission of its naval strike group. A news agency close to the IRGC: The Islamic Republic has given "anti-ship ballistic missiles" to the Houthis. The Iran-backed Houthis released 113 prisoners of war. The Houthis claimed to have attacked three ships in the Red, Mediterranean, and Arabian Seas. Australia listed the Iran-backed Houthis as a "terrorist organization." The Houthis attacked another commercial ship in the Red Sea. An American destroyer destroyed Houthi anti-ship missiles over the Red Sea. The U.S.: The Islamic Republic cannot hide behind the Houthis and must immediately cease destabilizing actions. The Iran-backed Houthis claimed to have attacked three ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean.