Houthis claim responsibility for long-range attacks, including on a liquefied gas tanker in the Mediterranean

The Houthis claimed responsibility for long-range targeted attacks at their weekly rallies on Friday, after weeks of threatening to expand their reach during the so-called fourth wave of their effort. Military sources and security analysts warn of the possibilities, while most attacks continue to come near Houthis-controlled areas in Yemen.

In his latest statement, Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for three of the recent attacks, without giving details. Two of them took place in the Arabian Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, although observers such as the British Maritime Trade Organization, EUNAVFOR Aspides and the US Central Command have not recorded these attacks.

One of those affected was on a ship called Essex which they said was an Israeli ship and had entered the ports under the Houthi blockade. Several sources link the ship to the LPG tanker Essex (26,447 dwt) with a capacity of 35,000 cbm of gas. The vessel’s AIS signal shows it in the anchorage in Alexandria, Egypt, after departing from Port Said.

The Liberia-registered vessel is managed by Britain-based Zodiac Maritime, which is being targeted by the Houthis due to investments by Israeli shipping magnate Eyal Ofer. Reuters quoted a Zodiac spokesman as saying nothing unusual had happened to the vessel recently, while Ambrey says the ship has not left Egypt recently.

The direct threat to a specific ship in the Mediterranean came after Bloomberg this week quoted an unnamed “senior defense official” as saying the Houthis could reach the Mediterranean. The report said the U.S. was concerned because the Houthis had sophisticated weapons.

Although they appear to have the range needed, security experts still question the accuracy of their attacks, especially given the frequent misses against moving ships at much closer range. They also point to the ability of Israel, the US and other forces to detect long-range missiles.

Accumulation of incidents between February and May (Aspide)

In its latest assessment, EUNAVFOR Aspides writes: “Attacks with drones and missiles are taking place along the main shipping route off the coast of Yemen. The highest risk area extends approximately 200 nautical miles north and east of the Bab al-Mandab Strait towards the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.” The organization has published a map showing the clusters of attacks.

The second threat was directed against the MSC Alexandra (190,734 dwt) is one of MSC’s larger ships, currently sailing from Spain and due to reach Abu Dhabi tomorrow, May 25. The Houthis claimed to have fired on the ship in the Arabian Sea. They have frequently attacked MSC for its ties to Israel, even though this ship belongs to the Geneva-based company.

It is unclear when the attacks allegedly took place, as the third attack they claimed responsibility for occurred yesterday. The ship, a Greek-managed bulk carrier named Yannis (50,779 dwt) and registered in Malta, reported an explosion in nearby waters on Thursday. A single missile hit the water when the vessel was 68 miles off the Yemeni port of Al-Hudayda. The ship’s AIS track shows it has transited the Suez Canal and reports it is en route to Mombasa, Kenya.

The Houthis highlighted the ship and its manager, Eastern Mediterranean Maritime, saying that three of the group’s vessels called at Israeli ports on May 4 and 5. Eastern Mediterranean Maritime reports that it currently manages 75 vessels. The company manages another bulk carrier, another bulk carrier, Cycladeswhich was also attacked in the Red Sea last month and suffered minor damage.

US CENTCOM also reported that two Houthi-fired anti-ship ballistic missiles fell into the Red Sea on May 23. No injuries or damage were reported to US, coalition or merchant vessels.

“However, the occasional decline in confirmed attacks in the Red Sea, the Strait of Bab al-Mandab and the Gulf of Aden should not obscure the fact that the Houthis still have the capability to launch such attacks,” Aspides warned this week.