Houthi Rebels Suspected in Gulf of Aden Ship Attack and Eilat Drone Strike

A suspected missile attack by Yemen's Houthi rebels targeted a ship in the Gulf of Aden early Wednesday. A separate drone attack, claimed by Iraqi militants allied with the Houthis, targeted Eilat, a southern Israeli port city. These incidents follow the departure of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower after an eight-month deployment responding to Houthi assaults.

The UK Maritime Trade Operations centre reported that a merchant vessel's captain noted a missile impacting the water near the ship off Aden's coast. The Joint Maritime Information Centre, overseen by the US Navy, later identified the vessel as the Saint Kitts- and Nevis-flagged bulk carrier Lila Lisbon. "The vessel was not hit and all crew on board are safe," the centre confirmed.

Drone Attack on Eilat

Early Wednesday, the Israeli military reported that a drone "fell off the coast of Eilat." The drone was monitored throughout and did not enter Israeli territory. Although Houthis have previously targeted Eilat with drones and missiles, an Iranian-backed group called the Islamic Resistance in Iraq claimed this attack. This group has recently begun joint operations with the Houthis over the Israel-Hamas war.

Houthi military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed a separate attack on another Israeli city with the Islamic Resistance in Iraq on Wednesday night. However, there was no evidence of such an assault. The Houthis have targeted more than 60 vessels with missiles and drones, resulting in four sailors' deaths since November.

Seizure of Aircraft Amid Economic Dispute

Meanwhile, Yemen's exiled government accused the Houthis of seizing commercial aircraft that had returned pilgrims from Hajj amid an economic dispute. Mohammed Shabiba, Yemen's minister in charge of Hajj, alleged that four planes from Yemenia were detained at Sanaa International Airport. He urged pilgrims still in Mecca to remain there.

Flight-tracking data showed at least two Airbus A320s stuck on the ground in Sanaa without explanation. Yemenia later stated that three Airbus A320s and an Airbus A330 had been detained for over a month. The flights were meant to transfer around 8,400 Hajj pilgrims from Houthi-held areas.

Economic Tensions Between Houthis and Exiled Government

The seizure "threatens air navigation safety and complicates flight operations within the country," Yemenia said in a statement via SABA news agency controlled by Yemen's exiled government. The Houthis and Yemen's exiled government have been increasingly at odds over economic issues despite efforts by a Saudi-led coalition to end the country's war.

The Houthis face challenges supporting their economy due to currency shortages, leading them to introduce a new coin into Yemeni currency, the riyal. This move has been criticized by Yemen's exiled government and other nations as counterfeiting. Authorities in Aden have demanded banks move their headquarters there to stop the riyal's value from sliding further.

US-Led Airstrike Campaign

A US-led airstrike campaign has targeted the Houthis since January, with strikes on May 30 killing at least 16 people and wounding 42 others, according to rebel sources. The Houthis claim their attacks target ships linked to Israel, the United States or Britain; however, many attacked ships have little or no connection to the Israel-Hamas war.

Late Tuesday, Saree claimed an attack on Monday on the Liberian-flagged container ship MSC Sarah V. On Wednesday night, he stated that they used a new hypersonic ballistic missile in an assault targeting a ship farther away than previous attacks in the Gulf of Aden.

The Houthis have also detained local Yemeni employees of international organisations like the United Nations and aid groups as part of a crackdown. Following their Iranian backers' pattern, they have aired videos of captives under duress, alleging they are spies based on emails praising their humanitarian work.

The ongoing conflict between Yemen's exiled government and Houthi rebels continues to impact regional stability and international shipping routes critically.