Houthis claim attack on two US destroyers in Red Sea

RED SEA: Militant group Houthis claimed to have attacked two United States (US) destroyers in the Red Sea on Tuesday.

The rebel group alleged that they also managed to attack a vessel called “Cyclades” and a container ship called “Orion” in the Red Sea.

Read more: Houthis claim downing US drone in Yemeni airspace

A destroyer is a type of warship used mainly in anti-submarine and anti-aircraft warfare. The warship is specially designed to nimble and fast in order to protecting larger ships within a nation’s naval fleet. A destroyer contains an extensive arsenal of weapons systems, including guns and missiles. It is designed to counter submarines, aircraft, and surface vessels of enemy states.

The militant group previously targeted a US unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) MQ-9 Reaper, claiming it had entered their airspace.

Similarly, Houthis fired missiles at a Liberian container ship in March. However, the missiles failed to hit the container ship.

Two “anti-ship ballistic missiles” were launched at the container ship from Yemen but resulted in no reported damage or injuries. A spokesperson for the Houthi group claimed that the vessel belonged to the US.

In February, the group claimed responsibility for an attack on a British ship sailing the Red Sea waters. Like the Liberian container ship, the British ship was able to dodge the missile and continue to its destination.

Read more: US Centcom engaged Iranian-backed Houthi drones in Red Sea

Red Sea Crisis

The Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea since October last year. It cites solidarity with Palestinians in the Israel-Palestine war that also began in October last year.

The Israeli assault on Gaza sparked the beginning of the Red Sea Crisis, during which the Houthis in Yemen has targeted several ships.

More than 34,000 Palestinians have lost their lives since Israel started bombarding the Gaza Strip, according to the local health ministry.