Houthis Attack Another US-Owned Commercial Vessel in Gulf of Aden

The Houthis have attacked another US-owned ship in the Gulf of Aden as the group is now targeting American commercial shipping following US and British airstrikes on Yemen.

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said Houthi forces targeted the Genco Picardy, a bulk carrier owned by the New York City-based Genco Ship Management, according to ship ownership data.

Sarea said the attack resulted in “direct hits” on the ship. Officials told The Associated Press that the vessel was struck about 70 miles southeast of Aden and was hit with a bomb-carrying drone.

Sarea said the attack was launched in “support of the plight of the Palestinian people and in solidarity with our brethren in the Gaza Strip, and within the framework of responding to the American-British aggression on our country.”

Since the US and Britain bombed Houthi targets in Yemen last Friday, the US has launched two more rounds of strikes. But the Houthis are not deterred and are vowing they won’t back down. The strikes against them are only escalating the situation, as the Houthis were not previously targeting American or British shipping.

The attack on the Genco Picardy marked the second time this week that the Houthis, officially known as Ansar Allah, hit a US-owned vessel. Before the US and British airstrikes in Yemen, the Houthis made clear the only thing that would stop their attacks on Israel-linked shipping would be an end to the Israeli slaughter in Gaza. But President Biden chose escalation instead of pressuring Israel to end the siege.