US says it struck underwater Houthi drone as rebel group claims critical hit on British ship

Houthi rebels in Yemen on Monday claimed they nearly sunk a British ship in the Gulf of Aden, one day after the U.S. carried out self-defense strikes that took out an underwater drone for the first time.

A Houthi statement carried by pro-Iranian media channels said fighters carried out a “special military operation” that struck the British ship Rubymar with several missiles, including a severe hit that brought the vessel to a complete halt.

“Due to the large damage the ship has sustained, it is now at risk of sinking in the Gulf of Aden,” the Houthis claimed in the statement, also saying they ensured the safety of the abandoning crew.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations confirmed an attack on a ship near Yemen on Sunday that forced the crew to abandon the vessel. The British organization also reported more attacks Monday on another ship, but the boat appears to be carrying on.

The Associated Press reported the damaged ship at risk of sinking is a British-registered, Lebanese-operated cargo ship.

The Houthis also claimed they downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone, which costs some $32 million to build. The Houthis shot down a U.S. Reaper drone in November.

The Hill has reached out to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment on the Houthi claims about the drone.

CENTCOM said Rubymar was hit around 10 p.m. local time on Sunday, forcing it to issue a distress call. Another merchant vessel, along with a warship involved with a U.S.-led coalition to defend ships against the Houthis, responded to the call and transported the crew of the Rubymar to a port. 

The Hill has reached out to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) for comment on the Houthi claims.

The attack on Rubymar comes after CENTCOM said targeted American strikes over the weekend hit three mobile anti-ship cruise missiles, one underwater drone and one surface drone in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

CENTCOM said the underwater drone was the first launched by the Houthis since attacks began in late October.

The fighting between the Houthis and the U.S. has escalated after Washington ordered large retaliatory strikes across Yemen beginning in January.

The strikes have failed to deter the battle-tested Houthis, who have endured years of bombings from the Saudi Arabia-backed coalition in Yemen.

But most Houthi attacks on merchant vessels and U.S. assets have failed, with American and British forces defending against the launches. Still, the Houthis have hit some boats with minor damage and hijacked one in November.

While it’s unclear how accurate the Houthi statement is, the Rubymar marks the most lethal attack yet, especially if it sinks.

The Houthis, an Iranian-backed group, say they are attacking Israeli-based ships or ships headed to Israel as part of a protest against the war in Gaza. The U.S. has accused the group of blatantly attacking commercial ships and sparking an international problem that threatens global trade and the worldwide economy.

This story was updated at 4:56 p.m.