Yemen’s Houthis has claimed to have targeted a United State-owned vessel in the Red Sea after Washington said it will re-designate the group as global terrorists.
The group said they targeted the Genco Picardy bulk carrier with missiles which resulted in a “direct hit”.
Washington’s new designation of the Houthis will require US financial institutions to freeze Houthi funds and its members will be banned from the US. However, the Houthi Red Sea attacks are a response to Israel’s operation in Gaza.
Recall that, the United Kingdom and United States launched air strikes on dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen in an attempt to stop the group from targeting vessels in the Red Sea.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the re-designation of the Houthis as “global terrorists” is in response to the Iran-backed group’s attacks on commercial shipping in the region.