Houthi boats fly Yemeni and Palestinian flags in solidarity with Gaza (French)
A Yemeni military source told Al Jazeera that Houthi Ansar Allah forces targeted an Israeli-linked ship in the Red Sea, while the Pentagon warned of the consequences of Houthi attacks.
The statement was preceded by the announcement of the British Maritime Trade Operations Authority that it had received a report on an incident in the Red Sea, about 50 nautical miles west of the Yemeni city of Hodeidah.
The authority added that the incident was being investigated and "we advise ships to exercise caution and report suspicious activities," without elaborating.
The US response came from Pentagon spokesman Patrick Ryder, who said that his country is not weak in the face of Houthi threats in the Red Sea.
During a press conference, the spokesman added that there are consequences of Houthi attacks in the Red Sea and US statements in particular should be taken seriously.
Yemen's Houthi group has stepped up attacks on Israeli-linked merchant ships in the Red Sea in protest against Israel's aggression on Gaza. Several shipping companies halted operations and instead made a longer journey around Africa.
The Houthis have vowed to continue attacks until Israel halts its aggression in Gaza and warned they would attack U.S. warships if the militant group itself became a target.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on December 18 the formation of a naval task force that includes a number of countries, including one Arab country, Bahrain, to confront attacks in the Red Sea.
Maritime trade accounts for 70 percent of Israel's imports, and 98 percent of its foreign trade passes through the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. Trade across the Red Sea contributes 34.6 percent to Israel's economy, according to Israel's Finance Ministry.
Source : Al Jazeera + Agencies