SANAA, Yemen

The Yemeni Houthi group denied on Monday evening any involvement in maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden, affirming that their actions target Israeli ships.

This statement came in response to the United States' announcement that “two ballistic missiles were launched from Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen towards an American naval destroyer in the Gulf of Aden.”

Abdulmalik Al-Ajri, a member of the Houthi political bureau and negotiation team, wrote on X, “Regarding the announced acts of piracy in the Gulf of Aden by the United States, the statements issued by the Yemeni Armed Forces (the Houthis) are clear that their maritime operations only target hostile Israeli ships.”

He considered the U.S. allegations as either a “ridiculous drama or an acknowledgment that the fragile situation in the occupied areas (under the control of the Arab coalition) and the adjacent Yemeni regional waters provide a suitable stage for piracy and terrorist groups, with responsibility falling on the occupying forces (referring to the Arab coalition).”

"Our naval forces are authorized to carry out any maritime operations and do not permit any other party to engage in piracy operations that threaten international navigation under any pretext, especially in the regional waters adjacent to the areas controlled by the National Authority in Sanaa (the Houthi group),” he added, without providing further details.

*Writing by Rania Abu Shamala