Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said on Wednesday it would keep up attacks on U.S. and British warships in the Red Sea in what it called acts of self defence, stoking fears of long-term disruptions to world trade.
In a statement, the group’s military spokesperson said all American and British warships participating in “aggression” against its country were targets.
The U.S. and Britain have launched strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and returned the militia to a list of terrorist groups as turmoil from the Israel-Hamas war spreads through the region.
In the latest exchange, the Houthis fired missiles at the US warship USS Gravely. On Tuesday night, US Central Command said its forces had shot down an antiship cruise missile.
The Houthi attacks have added a global economic element to the turmoil emanating from the war in Gaza.
Several shipping companies have suspended transits through the Red Sea, which is accessed from the Gulf of Aden, instead taking much longer and costlier journeys around Africa to avoid being attacked.
The situation has sent shipping and insurance costs soaring, raising fears of a renewed cost-of-living crisis.
