USA confirms Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea

WASHINGTON

The US military confirmed on Monday that the Yemeni Houthi group launched “multiple attacks” on a ship in the Red Sea carrying vegetable oil from Russia to China.

The Houthis used an unmanned surface vessel (USV) and two small boats in the attack on the MT Bentley I, a Panama-flagged, Israeli-owned tanker operating from Monaco, the US Central Command said on X, reporting no damage or injuries.

“Later, the Iran-backed Houthis fired an anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) at the MT Bentley I from Houthis-controlled territory in Yemen over the Red Sea,” it said.

Separately, the army said the Houthi group used a USV to attack the MT Chios Lion, a Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker owned by the Marshall Islands and operated by Greece, in the Red Sea.

“The UPS caused damage, but MT Chios Lion did not request assistance. No injuries have been reported so far,” it said.

CENTCOM stressed that the Houthis’ “persistent reckless behavior” threatens regional stability. The body said they “claim to act on behalf of the Palestinians in Gaza, yet they target and threaten to kill third-country nationals who have nothing to do with the conflict in Gaza.”

In solidarity with the Gaza Strip, which has been under Israeli fire since October 7 last year, the Houthis are attacking cargo ships with links to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The Red Sea is one of the world’s most used sea routes for the transport of oil and fuel.

Earlier this year, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a multinational mission called Operation Prosperity Guardian to repel Houthi attacks.

The Anadolu Agency website contains only a portion of the news offered to AA News Broadcasting System (HAS) subscribers, in a summarized form. Please contact us regarding subscription options.