Yemen’s Houthis claim attacks on British destroyer, 2 ships

SANAA, Yemen

Yemen’s Houthi group claimed Sunday to have targeted a British destroyer in the Red Sea and two ships in the Arabian Sea.

Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree said their fighters attacked the British destroyer Diamond in the Red Sea with ballistic missiles “in response to the Israeli attack on the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip.”

At least 274 people were killed and nearly 700 others injured in Israeli bombardment of the camp on Saturday, according to local health authorities.

The group said its fighters also targeted Nordeney and MSC Tavishi ships in the Arabian Sea with naval and ballistic missiles and drones.

The Houthis have been targeting cargo ships in the Red Sea owned or operated by Israeli companies or transporting goods to and from Israel in solidarity with the Gaza Strip, where more than 37,000 people have been killed in a deadly Israeli offensive since last October following a Hamas attack.

With tensions escalating due to US-UK airstrikes against Houthi sites in Yemen, the group declared it considered all American and British ships to be legitimate military targets.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala