Houthis Claim Use of 'New Ballistic Missile' in Attack on Cargo Ship

On Tuesday, Iran-backed Houthis announced that they used a 'new ballistic missile' to attack the cargo ship 'MCS Sara V' in the Arabian Sea and took responsibility for the attack reported on Monday. The Joint Maritime Information Center for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden stated on Monday that a Liberian-flagged ship was targeted by a missile in the Arabian Sea but was not hit. The center added that the ship was likely targeted due to its possible connection with Israel. Yahya Saree, the spokesman for the Yemeni group, claimed that the missile hit the ship 'accurately and directly' and described the vessel as 'Israeli'. The British Maritime Trade Operations announced that the crew of the ship is safe, and the ship, which was targeted 246 nautical miles from Al-Shihr, Yemen, was heading towards its next port. The Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen has carried out various drone and missile attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, and Gulf of Aden since November 2023. These attacks have resulted in civilian casualties and significant damage to commercial vessels and global trade. They claim to conduct such attacks in solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Gaza conflict. However, some experts say their attacks are directed by the Islamic Republic and are carried out with its assistance. An explosion near a cargo ship in the Arabian Sea; no damage reported. Houthi attack on a Greek ship; CENTCOM says damage to the ship and injuries to the crew are minor. Houthi militants in Yemen claimed a drone attack on four ships in Haifa port. Another attack by Iran-backed Houthis on a ship in the Gulf of Aden. U.S. military and coalition forces confront Houthi militants; 9 drones were destroyed. The U.S. sanctioned several Houthi arms supply networks. Rescue of the crew of the 'Verbena' ship; CENTCOM: The 'Jamaran' frigate did not respond to their request for help.