The Houthis resumed missile attacks with a strike targeting container ship Groton in the Gulf of Aden after a two-week pause, following Israeli airstrikes and the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.
ADVERTISEMENTA missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels struck a Liberian-flagged container ship traveling through the Gulf of Aden, authorities said on Sunday, the first assault by the group since Israeli airstrikes targeted them.
The Houthis did not provide a reason for their two-week halt in attacks on Red Sea corridor, which have seen similar slowdowns since the assaults began in November over Israel's war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The resumption follows the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, a key supporter of the Houthis, amid renewed concerns of regional conflict.
The attack struck the container ship Groton just above the waterline, causing minor damage, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational coalition led by the US Navy.
“All crew on board are safe,” the JMIC said.
The ship's Greek managers did not respond to a request for comment.
Yahya Saree, a Houthi military spokesman, claimed the attack in a prerecorded statement on Sunday afternoon.
Saree also claimed in his statement that the Houthis shot down a US MQ-9 spy drone over Saada province. Shortly after the claim, the rebels published footage of the downed aircraft, showing Houthi supporters including children climbing over the wreckage and pointing at what appeared to be missiles the drone had carried.
No military identification markings could be seen on the downed drone in the footage.
The US Defense Department said it was aware of the claim and investigating, without elaborating.
The rebels have targeted over 70 vessels with missiles and drones, killing four sailors and seizing or sinking several ships.
The Houthis maintain that their attacks target ships linked to Israel, US or Britain as part of the rebels’ campaign, which they say seeks to force an end to the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.
However, many attacks have been on ships with little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas conflict, including some bound for Iran. The Joint Maritime Information Center reported the Groton was attacked because other vessels in its fleet had recently visited Israel.
The Houthis have also launched drones and missiles at Israel, including a July 19 attack that killed one person and wounded ten in Tel Aviv. Israel responded with airstrikes on Houthi-held Hodeida that hit fuel depots and electrical stations, killing and wounding a number of people, the rebels say.