Houthi Militants Attack Liberia-Flagged Vessel For Second Time In Gulf of Aden

On Saturday, Houthi militants from Yemen announced a second attack on the Liberia-flagged container vessel MV Groton in the Gulf of Aden. Yemeni military spokesperson Yahya Saree reported the strike, but did not specify the exact timing of the latest attack.

According to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations, two missiles exploded near the MV Groton on Friday, approximately 130 nautical miles east of Aden. The advisory noted that the vessel’s crew was unharmed and there was no reported damage to the ship.

Saree indicated that the assault involved naval, UAV, and missile forces and followed a previous attack on August 3. The Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. They have expressed intentions to continue their attacks unless a ceasefire is established.

In recent months, the Iran-backed Houthis have also targeted Greek-flagged oil tanker Sounion, which was transporting approximately 1 million barrels of oil. Since November, the Houthis have increased missile and drone attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, attributing these actions to support for Palestinians amid the Gaza conflict.