Yahya Saree, the military spokesperson for Yemen's Houthi rebels, claimed on Thursday, May 20, that several ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean were targeted by missile and drone attacks from this Iran-backed group. According to Reuters, Yahya Saree stated in a televised speech that the Houthis used several ballistic missiles and drones to target the ships 'MSC Diego' and 'MSC Gina' on Thursday in the Gulf of Aden. He added that the Houthi rebels also targeted the 'MSC Victoria' in the Indian Ocean as well as in the Gulf of Aden. Previously, the Houthis had announced a new threat that they would soon expand their attacks on Israeli ships to the Mediterranean Sea. The Islamist militant group, which is supported by the Iranian government, began attacking cargo ships and warships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden a few weeks after the outbreak of war between Israel and the 'terrorist' group Hamas, under the pretext of supporting the people of Gaza. The group's attacks are mainly carried out using drones and anti-ship ballistic missiles, but aside from a few instances, many of their attacks have failed. In recent months, the Houthis have also launched several missile and drone attacks against the port of Eilat, which is about two thousand kilometers away from Yemen. The United States and its partners have repeatedly targeted the positions of this rebel group in response to the Houthi attacks on ships since November 2023. The U.S. Treasury Department has again placed the Houthis on the list of 'specially designated global terrorists' due to their attacks on commercial ships in the Red Sea since Friday, February 16. The new threat from Yemen's Houthis: We will target Israeli ships in the Mediterranean. A container ship was targeted by a missile attack in the Red Sea. The Houthis claimed to have targeted two ships and an American warship; CENTCOM denied this claim.
Iran-Supported Houthis Claim Attack on Three Ships in Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean
The Houthi rebels in Yemen, backed by Iran, claimed responsibility for missile and drone attacks on three ships in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean. This escalation follows their threats to extend attacks on Israeli vessels to the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the ongoing regional tensions. The U.S. has responded by targeting Houthi positions in retaliation for their maritime aggression.
👥 Key Players
⚡ Actions
📰 What Happened
Houthis claim missile and drone attacks on multiple ships in Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean.
- Houthis attack MSC Diego, MSC Gina, MSC Victoria
- Houthis announce Israeli ships
- U.S. Treasury Department designate Houthis
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Houthi attacks signify a growing threat to maritime security linked to Iranian support.
📝 Key Evidence
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%