Yemen's Houthis have targeted a US-owned vessel in the Gulf of Aden after Washington said it will re-designate the group as "global terrorists," reports BBC.
The group said they hit the "Genco Picardy" bulk carrier with missiles which resulted in a "direct hit".
On the other hand, The US military said the ship was hit by a drone on Wednesday evening launched from Houthi controlled areas in Yemen. It said there was some damage but no injuries, and the vessel remained seaworthy.
Washington's new designation of the Houthis will require US financial institutions to freeze Houthi funds and its members will be banned from the US.
The Houthi attacks in the Gulf of Aden and neighbouring Red Sea are a response to Israel's military operation in Gaza.
Earlier this month, the UK and US launched air strikes on dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen in an attempt to stop the group from targeting vessels in the waters.
On Wednesday evening, a Houthi spokesperson said the group had successfully targeted the Genco Picardy, and that the attack was a response to "the American-British aggression against our country".
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the re-designation of the Houthis as "global terrorists" is in response to the Iran-backed group's attacks on commercial shipping in the region.
bd-pratidin/GR
