The Iran-backed Houthis have claimed responsibility for attacks on four ships on Monday. The attacks on the cargo ships took place on “three fronts,” they said, according to UAE-based Al Ain news site.
The claims were unsubstantiated because “no maritime incidents were detected during the past 24 hours,” the report said.
Nevertheless, the Houthis said they had targeted British, American, and Israeli ships in the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea in “four attacks,” Al Ain reported.
“According to the Houthi militia, it bombed the Israeli ship (MSC Unific) in the Arabian Sea with ballistic missiles and claimed to have hit it accurately, while it targeted the American oil ship (Delonix) in the Red Sea for the second time in a week with ballistic missiles,” the report said.
Iran’s official news agency, Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reiterated the claim.
“The Yemeni armed forces say they have carried out new operations against four ships associated with the United States, Britain and the Zionist regime with missiles,” IRNA reported, citing Russia’s TASS Russian News Agency.
The Houthis claimed to have targeted the “container ship MSC Unific VI, two oil tankers, Delonix and Lucky Silver, and a cargo ship, Anvil Point,” IRNA reported. “At the time of the attack, MSC Unified was in the Arabian Sea, the Delonix oil tanker was in the Red Sea, the Lucky Silver oil tanker was in the Mediterranean Sea, and the Anvil Point ship was in the Indian Ocean, the Yemeni spokesman elaborated.”
The Houthis said it was their second attack on the Delonix.
Expanding operations
In a new development, the Houthis claimed a “joint operation with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq” in which they targeted ships. These included the oil tanker Waler, the container ship Johannes Maersk, and the Delonix tanker. Once again, the Houthis’ claims were unsubstantiated.
The Houthis claim that they target Israel-linked ships or ships that are sailing to Israeli ports.
The Houthis have attempted to expand their operations in recent months, carrying out longer-range strikes and also trying to reach the Mediterranean Sea. The recent claims by the Houthis indicate they tried to target a ship called Lucky Sailor in the Mediterranean. The Iranian-backed group said it had used cruise missiles. The Lucky Sailor is currently off the coast of Egypt’s Port Said, according to sites that track ships.
The Houthis have increased attacks in recent weeks. They have also sunk a ship, and they have increasingly used small kamikaze drone boats. The group has also showcased new kamikaze drone boats and boasted about new capabilities.
US Central Command on June 30 said: “In the past 24 hours, US Central Command (CENTCOM) forces conducted a self-defense engagement, destroying three Iranian-backed Houthi uncrewed surface vessels (USVs) in the Red Sea. It was determined the USVs presented an imminent threat to US and coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions were taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.”
“This continued malign and reckless behavior by the Iranian-backed Houthis threatens regional stability and endangers the lives of mariners across the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden,” CENTCOM said.