Houthi Ansar Allah Movement Claims Attacks On U.S. Merchant Ship And Destroyers In Red Sea And Gulf Of Aden; Lebanese Daily: Houthis Likely To Attack U.S. Bases In Arab Countries

The following report is now a complimentary offering from MEMRI's Jihad and Terrorism Threat Monitor (JTTM). For JTTM subscription information, click here.

On March 9, 2024, the armed forces of the Yemeni Houthi Ansar Allah movement claimed responsibility for "two specific military operations: The first operation targeted the American ship Propel Fortune in the Gulf of Aden with a number of appropriate naval missiles, while the second operation targeted a number of American war destroyers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden with 37 drones."^[1] Meanwhile, the pro-Hizbullah, Lebanese Al-Akhbar daily reported that according to anonymous sources the current campaign in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden is likely to expand to U.S. bases in Arab countries from where American forces have embarked on military operations against Yemen.

The following are reviews of the claim of responsibility and the Al-Akhbar report:

Houthi Armed Forces: We Will Continue To Operate In The Red Sea And The Arabian Sea Until The Cessation Of "The Aggression" Against Gaza

On March 9, 2024, on his Telegram and his X accounts, in both Arabic and in English, Houthi armed forces spokesman Yahya Saree' claimed responsibility for targeting the American ship Propel Fortune and several U.S. destroyers and added that the Houthi armed forces "will persist in upholding their military operations in the Red and Arabian seas until the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted."[2]

On March 9, 2024, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) reported that on the same day, between 4:00 a.m. and 8:20 a.m. (Sana'a time), U.S. and Coalition forces downed a total of at least 28 uncrewed aerial vehicles that were launched by the Houthis toward the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. CENTCOM stated that no U.S. or Coalition Navy vessels were damaged in the attack and that there were also no reports of damage by commercial ships.[3]

It should be noted that this is the fourth claim of responsibility by the Houthis since the beginning of March 2024, for attacks on American and allegedly Israeli merchant vessels and American warships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.[4]

Lebanese "Al-Akhbar" Daily: Houthis Are Likely To Attack U.S. Bases In Arab Countries

On March 9, 2024, the Lebanese Al-Akhbar daily reported that according to anonymous sources the current campaign in the arena of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden was likely to spread to additional arenas and to include U.S. bases in Arab countries from where the U.S. has launched military operations against Yemen. The paper also reported that "sources close to Ansar Allah" have stated that since the start of the war in Gaza the Houthi movement has carried out more than 100 operations – some of which it has not yet publicly claimed responsibility for – which utilized 400 rockets and drones. The sources further stated that 90 operations were perpetrated against Israeli merchant vessels; other operations were carried out against American and British merchant ships and destroyers in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden; and about 14 drone and long-range ballistic missile attacks were carried out "deep in the occupied Palestinian territories." They also stated that additional operations were carried out that the movement has yet to openly claim responsibility for.[5]