The recent attack on the Sounion is an example of how the Houthis have expanded their attacks. The ship now poses a major environmental concern because it is carrying oil. “The Sounion came under a barrage of projectiles last week, after the Iran-backed group targeted the crude oil tanker as part of a months-long campaign on ships along the maritime route,” CNN noted last week.
Now, the Houthis have increased their attacks again. The Houthis claimed over the weekend to attack an “Israeli-bound ship.” Houthi Spokesman Yahya Saree claimed on Saturday. “He said that Libera-flagged Groton ship was targeted in the Gulf of Aden because its owner company violated a Yemeni ban on ships entering ports in the occupied Palestinian territories,” Iran’s IRNA reported. Iran backs the Houthis.
It is using them to try to blockade Israel and to take over the Red Sea. This is an unprecedented move by Iran. Stakeholder countries such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt should be doing more to secure the waterway, but they are concerned that they will not be backed by the West. This leaves the region open to Iran’s predatory behavior. Iran is backed by Russia and China and has had naval drills with them over the last several years. Thus, the Houthi campaign is not in a vacuum, and it is not really about Israel. This is about Iran making a play to control the region. READ MORE
The Houthis “naval, UAV, and missile forces” participated in the operation, and “the ship was hit accurately and directly,” the Houthis spokesperson said over the weekend. The vessel was first targeted on August 3, he added. “The spokesman further noted that the Yemeni armed forces [Houthis] will continue their maritime operations in support of the Palestinian resistance in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank until Israel stops its aggression and lifts its siege on Gaza.”
