Yemen's Houthi movement has come forward claiming they had "targeted" a container ship bound for Israel.
INTERNATIONAL WATERS RED SEA, YEMEN - NOVEMBER 20: This handout screen grab captured from a video shows Yemen's Houthi fighters' takeover of the Galaxy Leader Cargo in the Red Sea coast off Hudaydah, on November 20, 2023 in the Red Sea, Yemen. On Monday, the Houthi movement in Yemen released footage and photos of the Houthi-run coastguard taking over the Israeli-linked Galaxy Leader Vessel in the Red Sea, which had 52 people onboard. Galaxy Leader is owned by Galaxy Maritime Ltd in the Isle of Man and is linked to Israeli businessman Abraham Ungar through Ray Car Carriers.
This comes a day after the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said the militant group had fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles in the southern Red Sea, according to Reuters. When asked about the Houthis' claim, the French shipping firm CMA CGM told Reuters the vessel was unharmed and had suffered no incident. The company also said the ship had been headed for Egypt, not Israel.
The Houthi's military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, announced in a televised speech that the group had "targeted" the CMA CGM Tage Container Ship withholding any other details. Sarea did not elaborate on when or where the incident took place. He continued to say the Houthis had sent out warning messages to the targeted ship and that its crew chose to pay it no mind. During Sarea's speech, he issued a warning to the United States and doubled down on the Houthi's stance that these attacks will continue until aid is allowed to enter Gaza.
"No U.S. attack will pass without a response or punishment," he added.
Following the announcement, Al-Jazeera reported that the Pentagon indicated a US warship and multiple commercial ships faced an assault in the Red Sea . "We are aware of reports regarding attacks on the USS Carney and commercial vessels in the Red Sea and will provide information as it becomes available," the Pentagon stated. However, it was reported last week that missiles landed near a US warship after it helped an Israeli vessel that had been briefly seized by gunmen. Last month, the Houthis also seized a vehicle transport ship linked to Israel in the Red Sea off Yemen. The group still holds the vessel near the port city of Hodeida.
Multiple commercial ships have felt the impact of the missiles in surrounding waters. According to the same Reuters article, The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Authority had also reported up to three explosions one to five nautical miles from a merchant vessel in the Bab al-Mandab strait, 33 nautical miles east of Eritrea's Assab, adding there were no reports of damage. The Reuters article also revealed that several shipping lines have suspended operations through the Red Sea waterway in connection to the attacks, resulting in a longer journey around Africa.
