In the Gulf of Aden, a new confrontation unfolded as reports emerged of a missile strike on a vessel flying under the American flag. The Chem Ranger was said to have been hit, according to channels broadcasting statements from the Yemeni rebel movement known as Ansar Allah. The information sources described the attack as part of a wider operation at sea, carried out by forces allied with the Houthi leadership.
According to Yahya Saria, the military spokesperson for the movement, the Yemeni Navy launched an operation in which the Chem Ranger faced a volley of anti ship missiles. He added that the ship was struck directly during the engagement. The statements suggested the strike on the Chem Ranger served as retaliation for recent missile launches by the United States and the United Kingdom against Yemen.
Prior to this event, fighters aligned with the Houthis reportedly targeted a United States vessel near the Yemeni port city of Mukalla. The claims describe a sequence of actions aimed at merchant shipping in a volatile maritime corridor adjacent to Yemen, underscoring rising tensions in the region.
Observers note that this marks the third reported Houthi attack on American ships since a series of strikes on Houthi positions in Yemen began about a week earlier. The developing narrative indicates a pattern of maritime assertions by the Houthis and countermeasures by foreign forces in the area.
Earlier statements from the Houthi side signaled an intention to monitor and potentially target merchant traffic in the Red Sea on a regular basis, with daily remarks about continuing operations. The evolving situation remains a focal point for regional security discussions and international maritime safety concerns. [Attribution: Al Masirah via Yemen media network] [Citation for context: regional security analysis notes]