Yemen’s Houthis claim attack on ship in Gulf of Aden

By Mohammed Sameai

SANAA, Yemen (AA) - Yemen's Houthi group said Friday that it targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones, accusing it of violating a ban on accessing Israeli ports.

“Our forces carried out a military operation in the Gulf of Aden, targeting the ship Lobivia with several ballistic missiles and drones due to its violation of the ban on reaching Israeli ports,” the group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree, said in a recorded message aired by the Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV channel.

He, however, did not specify the ship's owning company.

The vessel was hit directly in a joint operation by the (Houthi) naval forces, the missile force, and the drone air force.

The Houthis have been targeting Israeli-linked cargo ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under an Israeli onslaught since Oct. 7.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a multinational mission, Operation Prosperity Guardian, to counter Houthi attacks earlier this year.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio

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