The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has recently released a statement confirming that an Israeli-owned vessel was not the intended target of the recent missile attack launched by the Houthi rebels in Yemen.
On the night of December 1st, a Red Sea-bound Israeli container ship, the MV ALEC, was hit by two missiles fired by the Houthi rebels. Fortunately, the vessel was able to extinguish the fires that had broken out thanks to quick intervention by the Israeli Navy.
The DOD statement, released on December 3rd, clarified that the vessel was owned by an Israeli company and had been chartered by a U.S. company. They added that the attack was likely intended to target a U.S. naval vessel, though the target had not yet been identified.
The statement also referred to the ongoing tension between the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, which has been engaged in a conflict against the Houthis since 2015. The coalition is backed by the United States and the United Kingdom, which is why the U.S. and British governments released statements condemning the attack.
The U.S. Special Envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking, stated that he is deeply concerned by the attack. He added that the United States will continue to stand with Saudi Arabia and its allies in their fight against the Houthis.
As tensions between the various Middle Eastern factions continue to simmer, it is reassuring to know that the U.S. does not believe that the attack on the Israeli vessel was intended to target it specifically. The United States and its allies will remain vigilant against any further attempts by hostile forces to create chaos and instability in the region.