By Al-Fassel | 2024-04-29

ADEN -- The Houthis resumed their attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden last week, following a recent pause from the Iran-backed group which did not target any ships in more than two weeks.

US-led coalition forces on Thursday (April 25) "engaged and destroyed" two drones in Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen after the Houthis launched a ballistic missile into the Gulf of Aden.

Hours later, the US military "successfully engaged and destroyed one unmanned surface vessel (USV) and one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement on X.

Thursday's attack targeted the Liberia-flagged cargo ship MSC DARWIN VI in the Gulf of Aden, according to the Joint Maritime Information Center, which is run by a Western-led naval coalition.

On Wednesday, the Houthis attempted an attack on MV Yorktown, a US-flagged shipping vessel, CENTCOM said.

The Greek frigate Hydra, deployed to the Gulf of Aden in February as part of an EU naval coalition, also fired on two drones off the coast of Yemen on Thursday, shooting down one, Greek authorities said.

And the UK Navy shot down a Houthi missile fired at a merchant vessel in the same waters on Wednesday, the defense ministry said.

Late on Wednesday, the Houthis said they "are continuing to take further military actions against all hostile targets in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and the Indian Ocean."

Houthis, Iran seek chaos

The recent pause in direct attacks on vessels "does not mean that the Houthis have been inactive; it means that they have been regrouping," said Ian Ralby, maritime and international affairs expert, and founder and chief executive of IR Consilium.

"This is something we have seen them do numerous times in the past, and it is partly a tactic in and of itself to lure others into a sense of security while they are preparing for an upgrade or escalation in their attacks," he told Lloyd's List.

The Houthis' resumption of attacks on ships shows that they seek to maintain a level of chaos in the region, political analyst Fares al-Beel told Al-Fassel.

"Iran's role has been exposed, and these attacks have no connection to the Gaza [conflict] but are rather related to Iran's role in the region and the [ongoing] struggle for influence there," he said.

"The Houthi militia wants to tell the Western world that it is continuing its terrorist acts in the Red Sea, in order to remain prominently in the spotlight," he added.

Faisal Abu Bakr in Aden contributed to this report.