Yemen's Houthi militants hit an oil tanker in the Red Sea with a ballistic missile early Saturday, damaging the Panamanian-flagged, Greek-owned vessel in their latest assault in the war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip, they officials say.
While the Houthis did not immediately claim the assault, it comes as they claimed to have downed another US military. MQ-9 Reaper drone over Yemen and have launched other attacks on shipping, disrupting trade on a key sea route leading to the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean Sea.
The attack around 1 a.m. hit the Wind oil tanker, which recently docked in Russia and was on its way to China, US Central Command said. Both China and Russia maintain military equipment and oil ties to Iran, main benefactor of the Houthis.
The missile strike “caused flooding that resulted in a loss of propulsion and steering,” Central Command said on social platform X. “The crew of M/T Wind was able to restore propulsion and steering, and not casualties were reported. M/T Wind resumed her course under her own power.”
The British military's UK Maritime Operations Center and private security firm Ambrey also acknowledged the attack early Saturday. Ambrey said it caused a fire aboard the Wind.
It can take hours, or even days, for the Houthis to claim their attacks.
Since the outbreak of Israel's war with Hamasthe Houthis have attacked or threatened more than 100 commercial or military ships in the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis they claim their attacks are a protest against Israel's war against Hamas and US support for Israel, but US officials point out that many of the ships the group has targeted have no connection to Israel.
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Houthi attacks have decreased in recent weeks as the rebels have been targeted by a US-led airstrike campaign in Yemen. The US and the UK, with the support of other countries, they have done four rounds of joint airstrikes to destroy Houthi capabilities in Yemen. In addition, the US military regularly makes self-defense strikes against Houthi missiles and drones when he sees the Houthis preparing for an attack.
However, shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden remains low due to the threat.
The Houthis claimed they shot down the Reaper on Thursday with a surface-to-air missile. They described the drone as “carrying out hostile actions” in Yemen's Marib province, which remains in the hands of allies of Yemen's internationally recognized government in exile.
before thursday three Reaper drones have crashed since November in or around Yemen, at least two of which were confirmed to have been shot down by the Houthis.
The Reapers, which cost about $30 million each, can fly at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and have an endurance of up to 24 hours before needing to land.
