Yemen's Houthis conduct military operations in Gulf of Aden, Israel's Eilat

Houthi military spokesperson the latest operations came in response to the Israeli airstrike on Khan Yunis on Saturday.

 The Houthis  (photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)
The Houthis
(photo credit: REUTERS/KHALED ABDULLAH)

Yemen's Houthi terror organization said on Sunday they had conducted two military operations, one in the Gulf of Aden and one in Eilat at the southern tip of Israel.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the group had targeted the Israeli ship MSC UNIFIC in the Gulf of Aden with ballistic missiles and drones in addition to attacking military targets in Eilat with drones.

The spokesperson said that the latest Houthi operations came in response to the Israeli airstrike on Khan Yunis on Saturday, an attack which claimed the lives of at least 90 Palestinians and wounded 300 others, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

US Central Command statements

Separately, the US Central Command said in a statement on Sunday that it has "destroyed two Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) over the Red Sea and one uncrewed surface vessel (USV) in the Red Sea," as well as "one Houthi UAV in a Houthi-controlled area of Yemen."

"It was determined these systems presented an imminent threat to US, coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region," US Central Command added.

 HOUTHI MILITARY spokesperson Yahya Sarea delivers a statement in Sanaa, Yemen, in March, announcing that the Houthis had launched a missile attack on the ‘Pacific 01’ ship in the Red Sea.  (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS)
HOUTHI MILITARY spokesperson Yahya Sarea delivers a statement in Sanaa, Yemen, in March, announcing that the Houthis had launched a missile attack on the ‘Pacific 01’ ship in the Red Sea. (credit: KHALED ABDULLAH/REUTERS)

Since November, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group has been launching drone and missile strikes in shipping lanes in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. The group says these actions are in solidarity with Palestinians affected by Israel's war in Gaza.

In dozens of attacks, the Houthis have sunk two vessels, seized another and killed at least three seafarers.