A new explosion occurred off the coast of Yemen on Thursday following overnight airstrikes conducted by the United States against 10 attack drones and a ground control station belonging to the Iran-backed Huthi rebels. The blast, near a vessel west of the port city of Hodeida, resulted in no damage to the ship or injuries to the crew. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency reported the incident, but no responsible party has claimed responsibility thus far. The Huthis have been launching missile strikes in the Red Sea for several months, prompting retaliatory attacks from the United States and Britain. Earlier, US forces targeted a Huthi UAV ground control station and 10 Huthi one-way UAVs, citing an imminent threat to merchant vessels and US Navy ships in the region. The USS Carney intercepted an anti-ship ballistic missile launched by the Huthis towards the Gulf of Aden, while three Iranian drones were shot down shortly after. The intention of the downed drones, whether for attack or surveillance, was not specified. A commercial vessel was reportedly targeted by a missile southwest of Aden, according to maritime security firm Ambrey, following the Huthis’ claim of a missile attack against an American ship heading towards Israel. The ship was identified by Huthi spokesman Yahya Saree as “KOI,” although Ambrey did not disclose its ownership. In a separate operation, US forces destroyed a Huthi surface-to-air missile on Wednesday, which CENTCOM stated posed an imminent threat to “US aircraft.” While the United States has been conducting strikes against the Huthis and other Iran-supported groups, both Washington and Tehran have attempted to avoid direct confrontation. The Huthis began targeting Red Sea shipping in an effort to support Palestinians in Gaza, who have been affected by the Israel-Hamas conflict. In response, the US and British forces have launched strikes against the Huthis, who now consider American and British interests as legitimate targets. Some of the US strikes have focused on missiles that pose a direct threat to ships, indicating extensive surveillance of Huthi-controlled territory. To safeguard Red Sea shipping from repeated Huthi attacks, the United States has established a multinational naval task force. In addition to military action, Washington has exerted diplomatic and financial pressure on the Huthis, reclassifying them as a “terrorist” organization. The recent escalation of violence in the Middle East, triggered by anger over Israel’s campaign in Gaza, has involved Iran-backed groups in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Yemen.
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Another explosion reported in Yemen following US airstrikes
