Houthi rebels have hit a container vessel in the Gulf of Aden, marking the first attack on shipping in the region from the group in two weeks.
Houthis launched a missile at the Liberian-flagged Groton on August 4, shortly before the Yemeni rebel group said that it had also shot down a U.S. spy drone. According to the Associated Press, there were no injuries to the crew of the Groton, nor was there any major damage to the ship. The vessel — which has since been diverted for repairs — had left from the United Arab Emirates and was headed for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
More than 70 vessels have been attacked by Houthi rebels dating back to late last year, two of which were sunk. The group claims to be targeting ships with ties to Israel, the U.S., and the U.K., stemming from the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in the Gaza Strip. Since the attacks began, traffic through the Suez Canal has slowed to a halt, forcing ocean carriers to opt for a lengthy reroute around Africa’s Cape of Good Hope.
Houthi activity in the Red Sea has also slowed since Israel launched an airstrike on fuel depots and electrical stations in Yemen’s port city of Hodeida. The August 4 attack on the Groton was the first from Houthis since the strike in Hodeida.
