The Iran-backed Houthi group in Yemen claimed on Thursday that they had targeted three more commercial vessels using missiles and drones. Two of the ships were attacked in the Gulf of Aden, a location where previous Houthi terrorist acts occurred, while the third was in the Indian Ocean.
Houthi military spokesperson Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree stated in a televised speech that the ships MSC Diego and MSC Gina were attacked in the Gulf of Aden on Tuesday. Another vessel, MSC Vittoria, was first attacked in the Indian Ocean and then again when it entered the Gulf of Aden.
Saree referred to Diego and Gina as “Israeli” ships and boasted about the accuracy of the missile attacks. However, the U.S.-led Joint Maritime Information Center clarified that the two vessels were Panama-flagged container ships working for a company based in Geneva, and that the Houthi missiles missed their targets without causing any damage.
Furthermore, MSC Vittoria, also a Panama-flagged container ship, was not confirmed to have been attacked by Western military and shipping officials in either body of water.
Due to the danger of Houthi attacks, major shipping companies Maersk and Hapag-Lloyd announced they would avoid the Red Sea, resulting in increased shipping costs and delivery delays.
The Houthis had previously threatened to expand their attacks into the Indian Ocean, potentially risking conflict with the Indian Navy, which has deployed warships to the region for anti-piracy efforts.
The U.S. Navy revealed that the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and the guided-missile destroyer USS Gravely were returning to the Red Sea after a port visit to Greece for rearming and resupply. The ships had been patrolling the Red Sea since October during the Gaza War. Rear Admiral Marc Miguez praised his sailors for their tireless efforts in a challenging combat environment.
