US Rejects Yemen's Houthis Claim of Attack on American Ship Ocean Jazz in Gulf of Aden

The US has rejected a claim made by Yemen's Houthi rebels on Monday that they had hit the US military cargo ship Ocean Jazz in the Gulf of Aden.

In November, the Houthi rebels started attacking ships in the Red Sea, claiming they were targeting Israeli-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza.

Warships Surround Somali Pirates — HOYBYO, SOMALIA, AT SEA - SEPTEMBER 29: (EDITORS NOTE: IMAGE RELEASED BY U.S. MILITARY PRIOR TO TRANSMISSION) In this handout image provided by the U.S. Navy, the MV Faina, one of the three pirated cargo vessels, is observed by the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72) September 29, 2008 at sea in the Gulf of Aden off the coast of Hoybyo, Somalia. Several navy ships are in the area monitoring the situation where Somali pirates have seized the Ukrainian-operated MV Faina, a ship carrying 33 T-72 tanks, armored personnel carriers and weapons destined for Kenya. The Somali pirates are demanding a ransom of $20 million and report that they are surrounded by at least three foreign warships. Two other pirated vessels, MV Capt Stefanos and MV Centauri, are also anchored in the same location as the Ukrainian ship. Jason Zalasky/U.S. Navy via Getty Images

The US Naval Forces Central Command declared in a statement on Monday that the "report of an alleged successful attack on M/V Ocean Jazz, backed by Iranian-backed Houthi terrorists, is patently false." They added that the NAVCENT kept close contact with the M/V Ocean Jazz throughout its safe transit.

The Iran-aligned armed group that controls a large portion of Yemen did not specify the exact location of the attack or if any damage was caused.

The Houthis said earlier in a statement that the Yemeni Armed Forces affirm that retaliation against American and British attacks is inevitable, and any new aggression will not go unpunished.

On Monday, the British maritime security firm Ambrey said that the US military had contracted the vessel named by the Houthis.

The rebels reiterated on Monday that they will respond to any attack on Yemen. They intend to prevent Israeli ships from entering the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden until the end of the conflict in the Palestinian territory.

UK, US Launches Fresh Attacks Against Houthis in Yemen

Two defense officials claimed on Monday that the US and UK have carried out more strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen. The most recent round of attacks by the US military on the rebel's infrastructure is the eighth in just over ten days.

The US and UK have targeted less than ten sites. On January 11, the operation targeted approximately 30 Houthi targets. Fighter planes from the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier were used in the strikes.

On Monday, the US named the ongoing operation in Yemen "Operation Poseidon Archer." This name choice suggests a more extended and strategic approach to the operations in Yemen, which aims to prevent the Houthi group from attacking commercial ships in the Red Sea.

The US and the UK have launched attacks across Yemen against Houthi forces in recent weeks in response to months of Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping, which the Iran-backed fighters claim is a response to Israel's war on Gaza.

International maritime trade has been disrupted by the Houthis' attacks on dozens of commercial vessels operating in the Red Sea since November. The group initially said it was targeting Israeli-linked ships but has expanded its targets to include warships linked to the US and the UK.