WASHINGTON

The US military confirmed Wednesday that Yemen's Houthi group targeted a US-owned carrier ship in the Gulf of Aden with a drone. 

"At approximately 8:30 pm (Sanaa time) Jan. 17, an assessed one-way attack UAS (unmanned aircraft system) was launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen and struck M/V Genco Picardy in the Gulf of Aden," the United States Central Command (CENTCOM) said on X.

The Marshall Islands flagged M/V Genco Picardy is a US owned and operated bulk carrier ship.

"There were no injuries and some damage reported. M/V Genco Picardy is seaworthy and continuing underway," said the military.

Earlier, the Yemeni group's armed forces announced that they struck the ship "within Yemen's right to legitimate defense" and pledged to target "all threat sources" in the Arabian Sea and the Red Sea.

The Houthis say their attacks aim to pressure Israel to halt its deadly onslaught on the Gaza Strip, which has killed at least 24,000 people since an Oct. 7 cross-border offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas.

The US and UK launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in recent days in retaliation for the attacks, which have created fears of a new bout of inflation and supply chain disruption.

The Red Sea is one of the world's most frequently used sea routes for oil and fuel shipments.