Houthis strike once more: Oil tanker broken, US drone shot down

YEMEN: Yemen‘s Houthis have struck once more, with stories rising of an oil tanker broken and a US drone shot down amid escalating tensions over Israel’s offensive in Gaza, Al Jazeera reported.
In his newest televised tackle, the Houthis’ army spokesman, Yahya Saree, claimed duty for concentrating on the “British oil ship Andromeda Star” within the Pink Sea with naval missiles.The vessel sustained minor injury, in line with the US Central Command (CENTCOM), however is continuous its journey unimpeded.
There have been no accidents reported among the many maritime army coalition deployed within the space to counter such assaults.
Saree additionally introduced the downing of a MQ-9 Reaper drone operated by the US army, stating it was shot down whereas conducting hostile missions within the airspace of Yemen’s Saada governorate. The US army has but to touch upon the incident, however CBS Information confirmed the crash of an MQ-9 inside Yemen, sparking an ongoing investigation, in line with Al Jazeera.
This marks the third US drone shot down by the Houthis for the reason that outset of the battle in Gaza, with earlier incidents occurring in November and February. Regardless of this, the Houthis have remained silent on additional assaults in opposition to vessels in close by waters, though the US army reported anti-ship missiles being fired on the MV MAISH, a vessel flying the Antigua/Barbados flag.
The UK Maritime Commerce Operations (UKMTO) confirmed two assaults on a vessel, possible the MV Andromeda Star, close to al-Mukha (Mocha) in Yemen. The primary explosion occurred in shut proximity to the vessel, adopted by a second assault involving two missiles, leading to injury.
The Houthi army’s current exercise follows their declare of concentrating on the “Israeli ship MSC Darwin” within the Gulf of Aden and launching missiles and drones at targets in Israel’s southern port metropolis of Eilat. Previous to this, that they had attacked the US-flagged Maersk Yorktown and the Israeli-linked MSC Veracruz, prompting defence responses from US and UK warships.
Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, the group’s chief, dismissed ideas of diminished army capabilities, asserting that extra assaults are imminent. Addressing demonstrators in Sanaa and past, he declared a brand new theater of confrontation, concentrating on ships within the Indian Ocean as properly, as reported by Al Jazeera.
The Houthis have vowed to stop their assaults on one of many world’s busiest maritime routes if Israel halts its offensive in Gaza. These assaults haven’t solely disrupted world commerce but additionally impacted site visitors at Israel’s Eilat port.
In Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen, large-scale protests have been a weekly prevalence for the reason that battle started, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and condemning Israel and its allies. Initially targeted on Israeli-linked ships within the Bab al-Mandeb strait, the Houthis have since broadened their targets to incorporate US and UK vessels following army actions by Washington and London in Yemen.
Houthi-run media reported hundreds of thousands extra becoming a member of demonstrations throughout Yemen, highlighting the widespread help for his or her trigger, Al Jazeera reported.