Dubai, United Arab Emirates – A missile attack by Yemen’s Houthi rebels has caused significant damage to a Belize-flagged ship passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, connecting the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. This assault forced the crew to abandon the vessel, while another ship faced two attacks in the Gulf of Aden.
The Iran-backed Houthis not only claimed responsibility for the ship attack but also asserted that they shot down an American MQ-9 Reaper drone. U.S. forces in the region have not immediately acknowledged this claim, though the Houthis have previously downed U.S. drones.
Simultaneously, the U.S. military launched new airstrikes targeting the rebels, focusing on the first Houthi underwater drone observed since their attacks on international shipping commenced in November.
The ship targeted in the Houthi attack reported damage following an explosion near the vessel, with the crew safely abandoning the ship. Houthi Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the ship had sunk, but independent confirmation is lacking.
Identified as the Rubymar, a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo ship en route to Bulgaria, it was reportedly partially laden with cargo. Ship-tracking data revealed it had turned off its Automatic Identification System tracker in the Persian Gulf earlier this month.
Later on Monday, the UK Maritime Trade Operations and private security firm Ambrey reported a second vessel coming under attack in the Gulf of Aden. Identified as the Sea Champion, a Greek-flagged, U.S.-owned bulk carrier carrying grain from Argentina, it faced attacks on two separate occasions. The Houthis later claimed responsibility but stated it targeted a different vessel in the latter assault.
Additionally, a suspected Houthi drone attack targeted a ship off Djibouti in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, resulting in “superficial damage,” as reported by UK Maritime Trade Operations.
Since November, the Houthi rebels have consistently targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters, a response to Israel’s actions against Hamas. This has disrupted trade routes in a vital passage connecting Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
In a separate incident, Saree claimed Houthi forces shot down an MQ-9 drone near Yemen’s port city of Hodeida on the Red Sea. The U.S. military has not immediately confirmed the loss of any drones in the region. However, the Pentagon acknowledged a similar incident in November, where the rebels shot down an MQ-9 over the Red Sea.
As the conflict escalates, the U.S. military’s Central Command reported conducting five airstrikes targeting Houthi military equipment, including mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, an explosive-carrying drone boat, and an “unmanned underwater vessel.” This marks the first observed use of a Houthi underwater drone since attacks began in October 23.