Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement announced on Sunday that it targeted the MV Groton vessel in the Gulf of Aden, marking its first attack on shipping lanes since Israel’s retaliatory airstrike on Hodeidah port on July 20.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree stated in a televised address that the ship was attacked using ballistic missiles.
On Saturday, the British maritime agency UKMTO and British security firm Ambrey reported that the vessel was targeted by a missile 125 nautical miles east of Yemen’s port of Aden.
Both agencies confirmed that the ship did not sustain damage and no water entry or oil leaks were observed.
This attack is the first since a lull following Israel’s assault on Hodeidah, which happened a day after a drone launched by the Iranian-backed group struck Tel Aviv, Israel’s economic hub.
Since last November, the Houthi militants have launched attacks on international shipping near Yemen in solidarity with Palestinians amidst the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
These attacks have provoked retaliatory strikes from the U.S. and the UK, disrupting global trade as ship owners reroute vessels away from the Red Sea and Suez Canal, opting for the longer route around the southern tip of Africa.