AL-MUKALLA: Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militia claimed on Friday that it had attacked Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean for the first time, only hours after its leader promised to extend action against Israel-linked ships in the area.
Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the militia launched drones and anti-ship missiles at three Israeli and American ships in the Indian Ocean following its attacks in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
He also claimed that forces used missiles to strike an “Israeli” ship named Pacific 01 which was traveling through the Red Sea, as well as firing drones at a US Navy ship.
The Houthis warned that the militia will now attack any Israel-linked ships or those going to Israel in the Indian Ocean through the Cape of Good Hope.
Its statement said: “The Yemeni armed forces warn all Israeli ships heading to or coming from the ports of occupied Palestine not to pass through the Cape of Good Hope, or they will be a legitimate target for our armed forces.”
In recent months the Houthis have seized a commercial ship and its crew, and launched hundreds of drones, missiles, and remotely operated boats against foreign commercial and naval ships operating in international seas off Yemen’s shores in the Red Sea, Bab Al-Mandab Strait, and the Gulf of Aden.
The Houthis claim that the group targets Israel-linked or vessels bound for Israel to force the country to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Houthi militia leader Abdul Malik Al-Houthi said on Thursday that his forces would expand their actions against Israel.
Al-Houthi claimed that since March 7 the militia had launched 58 ballistic missiles and drones against dozens of commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Indian Ocean.
He said in a televised speech: “We declare that ships affiliated to the Israeli enemy will be prohibited from traversing the Indian Ocean, even in the area next to South Africa, toward Israel.”
The Houthi claims came as the US Central Command said on Friday that the militia had launched 13 ballistic missiles and two drones targeting international commercial and naval ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden during the past 24 hours.
CENTCOM said that the Houthis had fired four anti-ship ballistic missiles from areas under the militia’s control in Yemen toward the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea, none of which struck any ships, while its forces shot down nine similar missiles and two drones fired by the group.
CENTCOM added: “These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure for US Navy and merchant vessels.”
Houthis claim first attacks on ships in Indian Ocean
https://arab.news/5c59s
Houthis claim first attacks on ships in Indian Ocean
- US Central Command says anti-ship missiles, drones hit in Yemen strikes
- Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said the militia launched drones and anti-ship missiles at three Israeli and American ships
First responders enter devastated Aleppo neighborhood after days of deadly fighting
- The US-backed SDF, which have played a key role in combating the Daesh group in large swaths of eastern Syria, are the largest force yet to be absorbed into Syria’s national army
ALEPPO, Syria: First responders on Sunday entered a contested neighborhood in Syria’ s northern city of Aleppo after days of deadly clashes between government forces and Kurdish-led forces. Syrian state media said the military was deployed in large numbers.
The clashes broke out Tuesday in the predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods of Sheikh Maqsoud, Achrafieh and Bani Zaid after the government and the Syrian Democratic Forces, the main Kurdish-led force in the country, failed to make progress on how to merge the SDF into the national army. Security forces captured Achrafieh and Bani Zaid.
The fighting between the two sides was the most intense since the fall of then-President Bashar Assad to insurgents in December 2024. At least 23 people were killed in five days of clashes and more than 140,000 were displaced amid shelling and drone strikes.
The US-backed SDF, which have played a key role in combating the Daesh group in large swaths of eastern Syria, are the largest force yet to be absorbed into Syria’s national army. Some of the factions that make up the army, however, were previously Turkish-backed insurgent groups that have a long history of clashing with Kurdish forces.
The Kurdish fighters have now evacuated from the Sheikh Maqsoud neighborhood to northeastern Syria, which is under the control of the SDF. However, they said in a statement they will continue to fight now that the wounded and civilians have been evacuated, in what they called a “partial ceasefire.”
The neighborhood appeared calm Sunday. The United Nations said it was trying to dispatch more convoys to the neighborhoods with food, fuel, blankets and other urgent supplies.
Government security forces brought journalists to tour the devastated area, showing them the damaged Khalid Al-Fajer Hospital and a military position belonging to the SDF’s security forces that government forces had targeted.
The SDF statement accused the government of targeting the hospital “dozens of times” before patients were evacuated. Damascus accused the Kurdish-led group of using the hospital and other civilian facilities as military positions.
On one street, Syrian Red Crescent first responders spoke to a resident surrounded by charred cars and badly damaged residential buildings.
Some residents told The Associated Press that SDF forces did not allow their cars through checkpoints to leave.
“We lived a night of horror. I still cannot believe that I am right here standing on my own two feet,” said Ahmad Shaikho. “So far the situation has been calm. There hasn’t been any gunfire.”
Syrian Civil Defense first responders have been disarming improvised mines that they say were left by the Kurdish forces as booby traps.
Residents who fled are not being allowed back into the neighborhood until all the mines are cleared. Some were reminded of the displacement during Syria’s long civil war.
“I want to go back to my home, I beg you,” said Hoda Alnasiri.
