Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for launching a missile attack on a US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden on Wednesday, in retaliation for the US re-designating the group as a global terrorist organization.
The Houthis said they hit the Genco Picardy bulk carrier with a drone, causing some damage but no injuries. The US military confirmed the attack and said the vessel remained seaworthy.
The attack came as the US announced it would re-impose sanctions on the Houthis, reversing a decision made by the Biden administration in 2021 to remove the group from the US Specially Designated Global Terrorist List (SDGT).
The US said the move was in response to the Houthis’ attacks on commercial shipping in the region, which have threatened global trade and endangered US personnel.
The Houthis, who are backed by Iran, have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition in Yemen since 2015. The conflict has created the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, with millions of people facing famine and disease.
The US and the UK have been supporting the coalition with weapons and intelligence, but have also called for a political solution to end the war.
The Houthis have said they are willing to negotiate, but have also vowed to continue their attacks on Saudi Arabia and its allies until the coalition stops its airstrikes and lifts its blockade on Yemen.
