Ships in the Indian Ocean: A New Target for Missiles From Yemen

Yemen's Ansar Allah (Houthi) group vowed to prevent Israeli-linked ships from passing through the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope, the Houthi movement chief Abdulmalek Al-Houthi said.

In a televised speech on Thursday, Al-Houthi said, "Our main battle is to prevent ships linked to the Israeli enemy from passing through not only the Arabian Sea, the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, but also the Indian Ocean towards the Cape of Good Hope." 

He indicated that they have targeted 73 ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, and the number of Yemenis "martyred" during the navaloperations has been 34. 

While shipping companies decided to pass the Red Sea to shun the Houthi attacks, the Houthi intention to attack shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean has raised a new challenge. 

Today, Houthi spokesperson Yahya Sarea warned "all Israeli ships heading to or coming from the ports of occupied Palestine not to pass through" South Africa's Cape of Good Hope. He added, "[The Israeli ships] will be a legitimate target for our armed forces."

He also said his group hit an Israeli-owned ship with missiles, indicating that the vessel is called  Pacific 01.

The Royal Navy's United Kingdom Marine Trade Operations and security firm Ambrey reported today that the ship was damaged after being hit west of the Houthi-held Yemeni port of Al-Hudaydah on early Friday. However, a daylight inspection showed that the vessel had not been impacted by the missile and had not sustained damage, UKMTO and Ambrey said in a later update. 

As Iran-backed Houthis keep firing missiles at commercial vessels and warships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, U.S. forces have continued striking Houthi sites in Yemen. 

On Thursday, the US military said it had destroyed nine anti-ship ballistic missiles and two drones after the Houthis fired on ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. 

Houthis say their operations are part of their support for Palestinians in Gaza, where over 30000 people have been killed by Israel since October.