Yemen's Houthis conducted three military operations targeting three vessels in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, the Iranian-backed group's military spokesperson Yahya Saree said on Wednesday.
British security firm Ambrey said in a statement that a Greek-owned bulk carrier was allegedly targeted by the Houthi group while underway northbound in the Red Sea.
According to the statement, the carrier's transmissions stopped 118NM east of Massawa, Eritrea. At the time, it was underway from Mormugao, India, with its destination as Suez, Egypt. "The alleged 'targeting' of the vessel was aligned to the stated Houthi intent," Ambrey said.
The Houthi group's statement following the attack
Houthi terrorists targeted two vessels in the Red Sea, Roza and Vantage Dream, with a number of missiles and drones, Saree added in a televised speech. The third ship, the US vessel Maersk Seletar, was targeted in the Arabian Sea with a number of drones, Saree said.
"The operations were carried out with high precision, and targets were hit," the Houthi group said in an official statement on Telegram.
"We call on all foreign companies and ships to leave the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea to avoid being targeted," the group continued.
Attacks done "in support of the Palestinian people"
Furthermore, the Houthi group affirmed that the attacks were done as an act of solidarity with the Palestinian people. "Our operations came in support of the Palestinian people and their victory [in the Israel-Hamas war]. The operations were a response to the crimes against those who have been displaced in Rafah, and they were done within the framework of our plan to expand into a fourth phase of escalation."
The Houthi group concluded that they plan on continuing "to carry out operations in support of the Palestinian people until the aggression against them stops, they are victorious, and the siege on the Gaza Strip is lifted.
Reuters contributed to this report.