A Liberian-flagged container ship, the MV Groton, was hit by a missile attack from Yemen’s Houthi armed group in the Gulf of Aden, marking the first assault on shipping since Israel’s air strike on Hodeidah on July 20. The Houthi military spokesperson, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, confirmed the attack in a televised statement, identifying the use of ballistic missiles in the strike.
The Joint Maritime Information Center (JMIC), overseen by the U.S. Navy, reported that the attack occurred approximately 225 kilometers southeast of Aden. The missile struck the MV Groton just above its waterline, causing minor damage but no casualties among the crew. The vessel, which had departed from Fujairah in the UAE bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, was diverted to a nearby port following the attack.
MARITIME SECURITY 🚨 ⚓️
First Houthi attack for 14 days reported in Gulf of Aden.
MV GROTON was targeted twice because one of its ownership entities has other ships which called at Israel.#security #middleeast #redsea #mena #middleeast #maritime #maritimesecurity… pic.twitter.com/98VjT0tZdG
— Martin Kelly (@_MartinKelly_) August 3, 2024
The Houthis have not provided a clear reason for the recent pause in their attacks on shipping, which have intermittently disrupted the Red Sea corridor since November. This latest assault follows the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran, the Houthis’ main ally, raising concerns of escalating regional conflict.
In addition to the missile attack on the MV Groton, the Houthis also claimed to have downed a U.S. MQ-9 spy drone over Saada province, although this has not been independently verified. The U.S. Defense Department acknowledged the claim and is investigating the incident.
The Houthi rebels have been active in Yemen’s civil war since 2014, controlling significant parts of the country’s north and west, including the capital, Sanaa. Their maritime campaign has targeted over 70 vessels, resulting in the deaths of four sailors and the sinking of two ships. This has prompted international responses, including U.S. and British air strikes, and disrupted global trade routes, with some ships rerouting around Africa to avoid the conflict zone.
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