Yemen’s Houthis claim attacks on Israel’s Eilat, 6 ships amid Red Sea tension

By Anadolu staff

SANAA, Yemen (AA) – Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Tuesday to have targeted Israel’s city of Eilat and six ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the last 72 hours.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said dozens of ballistic missiles and drones were fired at Eilat in southern Israel.

The group also targeted the Maersk Saratoga, APL Detroit, the Huang Pu and Pretty Lady, identifying them as US and British ships as well as two US destroyers.

“Houthis will continue their attacks in solidarity with the Palestinian people,” the spokesman vowed.

There was no comment from the US on the Houthi claim.

The Houthis have been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where more than 32,400 people have been killed in a deadly Israeli offensive since last October following a Hamas attack.

With tensions escalating due to US-UK airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, the group declared it considered all American and British ships to be legitimate military targets.

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

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar