Yemen’s Houthis Strike Again: US Drone Shot Down, UK Ship Targeted with Naval Missiles
In a recent escalation of tensions, Yemen’s Houthi rebels have targeted a British oil tanker in the Red Sea with naval missiles, causing minor damage to the vessel. Additionally, they have claimed responsibility for shooting down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone in Yemen’s Saada governorate.
The attacks come amidst rising tensions over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, with the Houthis also targeting the “Israeli ship MSC Darwin” in the Gulf of Aden and launching missiles and drones at targets in Israel’s southern port city of Eilat.
Despite these actions, the Houthis have remained defiant, with their leader Abdel-Malik al-Houthi declaring more attacks are imminent. He has vowed to cease their attacks on maritime routes if Israel halts its offensive in Gaza.
The attacks have not only disrupted global trade but have also impacted traffic at Israel’s Eilat port. Large-scale protests in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen have expressed solidarity with Palestinians and condemned Israel and its allies.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with the US military confirming the downing of the drone and the UK Maritime Trade Operations reporting the attacks on the British oil tanker. The US and UK have deployed warships in response to previous attacks on their vessels.
As tensions continue to rise in the region, the world waits to see how the situation will unfold and whether further escalations can be avoided.