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Houthis claim attacking 2 ships
An American warship and multiple commercial ships came under attack on Sunday in the Red Sea, the Pentagon said.
Yemen’s Houthi rebels later claimed attacks on two ships they described as having links with Israel but did not acknowledge targeting a U.S. Navy vessel.
The attack potentially marked a major escalation in a series of maritime attacks in the Mideast linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
“We’re aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea.
“And we will provide information as it becomes available,” the Pentagon told the Associated Press.
The Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer. It remained unclear what damage, if any, the vessels sustained in the attacks.
The British military earlier said there had been a suspected drone attack and explosions in the Red Sea, without elaborating.
The Pentagon did not identify where it believed the fire came from.
However, Houthi military spokesman, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed the attacks.
Saree said Houthi hit the first vessel by a missile and the second by a drone while in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden.
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He described the ships as allegedly ignoring warnings from Houthi officials before the attack.
Saree did not mention involvement of any U.S. warship in the attack.
“The Yemeni armed forces continue to prevent Israeli ships from navigating the Red Sea (and Gulf of Aden) until the Israeli aggression against our steadfast brothers in the Gaza Strip stops,” Saree said.
“The Yemeni armed forces renew their warning to all Israeli ships or those associated with Israelis that they will become a legitimate target if they violate what is stated in this statement.”
Saree identified the first vessel as the Bahamas-flagged bulk carrier Unity Explorer. A British firm owned It, includes Dan David Ungar, who lives in Israel, as one of its officers.
The second was a Panamanian-flagged container ship called Number 9 which is linked to Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement.
AP could not immediately reach managers for the two vessels for comment.
Israeli media identified Ungar as being the son of Israeli shipping billionaire Abraham “Rami” Ungar.
Houthis launched series of attacks on vessels in Red Sea, and launching drones and missiles targeting Israel amid the war.
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