- Despite the US military and the UK marine agency’s repeated statements about Houthi strikes in the Red Sea, the Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for new
attacks on the critical maritime waterway since March 26
AL-MUKALLA (Agencies): US Central Command forces destroyed on Monday an explosive-laden and remotely controlled boat readied for launch by Yemen’s Houthi militia, as a UK marine agency reported a new incident in the Red Sea.
CENTCOM said its forces destroyed a Houthi unmanned surface vessel after ascertaining that it intended to strike US-led marine coalition forces and international commercial ships in the Red Sea.
“These actions are necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure for US, coalition, and merchant vessels,” CENTCOM said on X.
Houthi media reported on Monday that US and UK airplanes struck the district of Al-Taif in the western province of Hodeidah, the latest round of raids by the two countries’ militaries against Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen in response to Yemeni militia attacks on ships.
At the same time, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency, which monitors ship attacks, cautioned ships cruising in the Red Sea on Monday to exercise caution after receiving alerts from a master ship regarding an incident 150 nautical miles northwest of Yemen’s western Hodeidah.
“The master of the vessel reported that they were hailed by an entity claiming to be Yemeni Navy who requested the vessel turn on its automatic identification system,” UKMTO said, adding: “Shortly after the hailing, a crew member of the vessel reported that they heard suspected gunshots.”
Despite the US military and the UK marine agency’s repeated statements about Houthi strikes in the Red Sea, the Houthis have not formally claimed responsibility for new attacks on the critical maritime waterway since March 26.