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Huthis hit US vessel with drone near Yemen

Members of Houthi-affiliated security forces pose for a photograph during prayers in solidarity with Gaza and the West Bank, in the Houthi-controlled Yemeni capital Sanaa on October 27, 2023. — AFP  

DUBAI: Iran-backed Huthis claimed that they have targeted a US ship with a drone near Yemen. The United Kingdom's security agency confirmed the strike.

The development comes shortly after the United States labeled the group as a "terrorist" entity again.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) security agency reported that the drone hit the US ship in the Gulf of Aden. The Huthis had earlier promised more attacks on ships. Yahya Saree, a spokesperson for the Huthi military, said their naval forces targeted the US ship called the Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden.

In televised remarks, Saree vowed that attacks would continue in self defence and in support of the Palestinians in Gaza, AFP reported.

However, British maritime risk management company Ambrey said the vessel that was attacked was a Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier.

A "vessel has been hit on the port side by an Uncrewed Aerial System", the UKMTO said, adding that a fire on board had been extinguished and the "vessel and crew are safe".

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, it said Wednesday´s incident happened 60 nautical miles southeast of the port of Aden, and added: "Vessels are advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity to UKMTO."

Ambrey said the ship had been heading "east along the Gulf of Aden when it was struck by a UAV on the port side and on the gangway" which was damaged.

It said an Indian warship was in contact with the bulk carrier.

Earlier Wednesday, Huthi spokesman Mohammed Abdelsalam had told Al Jazeera TV the rebels would continue attacking Red Sea shipping following the US decision to put the group back on a list of "terrorist" entities.

"We will not give up targeting Israeli ships or ships heading towards ports in occupied Palestine... in support of the Palestinian people," he told the Qatar-based broadcaster.

He also said the Huthis would respond to new strikes on Yemen by the United States or Britain, despite already facing multiple rounds of air strikes in response to their targeting of merchant vessels.

The rebels say their attacks are in support of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel is battling militant group Hamas.