US airstrikes targeted ‘command post’ of seized ship: Houthis

YEMEN/ANKARA

US warplanes targeted with two airstrikes the “command post” of the Galaxy Leader, a vessel seized in November 2023 by Yemen’s Houthi group in the Red Sea, the Houthi-affiliated Al-Masirah television channel reported Sunday.

The Houthis provided no further details on the attack, and there has been no official statement from the US or Israel regarding the incident.

Israel's Walla news outlet reported on Nov. 19, 2023 that the Houthis had captured the vessel, which is partially owned by an Israeli company. It was also noted that no Israeli citizens were on board

It was hijacked by Houthi rebels and its 25 crew members were held hostage for over a year before being released this January with mediation from Oman

The Houthis warned Israel on March 7 to allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip within four days or face renewed maritime operations against Israeli-linked vessels.

The US launched airstrikes on Yemen’s Houthis as President Donald Trump warned that “hell will rain down” if the Iran-backed group continues its attacks on Red Sea shipping.

The Houthis have been attacking Israeli-linked ships passing through the Red and Arabian seas, the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones since late 2023, disrupting global trade for what it said was a show of solidarity with the Gaza Strip.

The group halted attacks when a Gaza ceasefire was declared in January between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas. But it threatened to resume the attacks when Israel blocked all aid into Gaza on March 2.