Houthis Target Container Ship & 2 U.S. Navy Destroyers Using Drones & Missiles

The Yemeni Houthis have claimed responsibility for the attack on the Liberian-flagged container ship Contship Ono in the Red Sea and two U.S. Navy destroyers, the Cole and the Laboon, in the Gulf of Aden.

The attacks were carried out with ballistic missiles and drones, according to the group’s military spokesperson, Yahya Saree.

The Houthis have intensified their strikes on crucial maritime routes, including the Bab-al-Mandeb Strait, the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea.

These attacks, which the Houthis claim to be in solidarity with the Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict, have forced shipping companies to reroute their vessels around southern Africa, resulting in increased shipping costs.

The attacks have been less frequent since an Israeli bombing on July 20, 2024, which targeted military positions near Yemen’s Hodeidah port and killed several.

On August 04, 2024, the Houthis launched their first attack in two weeks, targeting the Liberian-flagged container ship MV Groton in the Gulf of Aden.

The increase in attacks comes after Israeli airstrikes on Beirut killed Hezbollah’s deputy leader, Fuad Shukr, and the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran.

Since November 2023, the Houthis have attacked more than 70 vessels, killing at least four sailors, sinking two vessels and seizing one.

Some of the Houthi-launched missiles and drones were intercepted by the U.S.-led coalition or failed to reach their targets.

In response, U.S. Central Command forces destroyed three anti-ship cruise missiles, two Houthi-launched uncrewed aerial vehicles, and a ground control centre in Yemen on August 07, 2024.

The continued disruption of shipping through the Red Sea Corridor, a key global trade route, reflects the conflict’s broader impact on international maritime trade.

Reference: Reuters