SANAA, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group claimed responsibility on Wednesday for an attack on a cargo ship in the Red Sea and missile and drone strikes on two Israeli cities.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a televised statement that the group targeted the ship, identified as the "Tutor," using "an unmanned boat, several drones, and ballistic missiles." He said the operation caused "severe damage" to the vessel and put it "at risk of sinking."
Sarea justified the attack by accusing the cargo ship's owner of violating a Houthi ban on entering Israeli ports. He further claimed that the group had carried out "joint military operations with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq" against targets in the Israeli coastal cities of Ashdod and Haifa, employing cruise missiles and drones.
There has been no official statement from the Israeli side on the Houthi-claimed attacks.
Earlier on Wednesday, an unnamed official at the Yemeni government's Coast Guard forces said the Greek-owned bulk carrier "Tutor" came under attack twice approximately 67.7 nautical miles southwest of Yemen's Hodeidah, when an explosives-laden boat detonated at its stern, causing a breach in the hull and flooding.
Of the 21 crew members of different nationalities aboard the ship, one has been declared missing in the first attack, the official said.
Since November last year, the Houthi group has launched anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what it said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea to show solidarity with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the region has conducted air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets since January to deter the group but only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. ■
