Yemen's Houthis claim attacks on two ships in Red Sea, Indian Ocean

Shafaq News/ On Thursday, Yemen’s Houthi (Ansarallah) announced that they had targeted two ships, one in the Red Sea and another in the Indian Ocean, marking a new escalation in the group’s maritime operations.

In a statement, the Houthis claimed they had launched a coordinated attack on the US-flagged oil tanker “Olympic Spirit” in the Red Sea. The group said the ship was struck by “11 ballistic missiles and two drones,” resulting in direct hits.

The Houthis further stated that the operation was a joint effort involving their missile forces, air force, and naval units.

A second attack, the group said, involved a missile strike on the vessel “ST. JOHN” in the Indian Ocean, which also reportedly sustained direct damage.

The statement added that the “ST. JOHN” was targeted because the ship's owner violated a ban on entering ports of “occupied Palestinian territory.”

The Houthis have intensified their maritime attacks since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October, targeting more than 80 vessels with missiles and drones. Their campaign has resulted in the seizure of one vessel, the sinking of two others, and the deaths of four sailors. A US-led coalition has intercepted other attempted attacks or have failed to reach their targets.