According to Reuters, on January 31, Yemen’s Houthis claimed responsibility for targeting an American merchant ship in the Gulf of Aden, following their missile attack on the U.S. Navy destroyer Gravely.
As reported by Reuters, operated by UK-based Oceonix Services, the KOI is a Liberian-flagged container ship, part of the company’s fleet which includes the oil tanker Marlin Luanda, previously damaged by a missile on Saturday.
Ambrey reported an explosion on a merchant vessel’s starboard, targeted by a missile 69 nautical miles southwest of Aden, Yemen. Although Ambrey did not specify if it was the KOI, it noted the missile was fired from Dimnat Khadir District, Taiz Governorate, Yemen.
The Houthi campaign, involving exploding drones and missiles since Nov. 19, has disrupted international shipping, leading some companies to reroute through the longer journey around Africa due to heightened risks in the Red Sea. The U.S. and Britain have responded with strikes on Houthi targets, further escalating tensions amid regional turmoil.
