Houthis Launch Another Attack: Oil Tanker Sustains Damage, US Drone Downed

In a latest development, Yemen’s Houthis have attacked again, damaging an oil tanker and shooting down a US drone amid escalating tensions over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, as reported by Al Jazeera. The Houthis’ military spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed responsibility for targeting the British oil ship “Andromeda Star” in the Red Sea with naval missiles. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed the vessel sustained minor damage but continued its journey unimpeded.

There were no injuries reported among the maritime military coalition deployed in the area to counter such attacks. Saree also announced the downing of a US MQ-9 Reaper drone, stating it was shot down while conducting hostile missions in Yemen’s Saada governorate. The US military is yet to comment on the incident, but CBS News confirmed the crash of an MQ-9 inside Yemen, sparking an ongoing investigation.

This marks the third US drone shot down by the Houthis since the conflict in Gaza began. Despite this, the Houthis have remained silent on further attacks against vessels in nearby waters. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) confirmed two attacks on a vessel near al-Mukha (Mocha) in Yemen.

The Houthis have vowed to cease their attacks on one of the world’s busiest maritime routes if Israel halts its offensive in Gaza. These attacks have disrupted global trade and impacted traffic at Israel’s Eilat port. In Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, large-scale protests have been a weekly occurrence, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israel and its allies. The Houthis have broadened their targets to include US and UK vessels following military actions by Washington and London in Yemen.