Qatar secures an ceasefire extension in Gaza

Gaza November 28, 2023 (QJ) -The United States confirmed that a group that recently tried to seize a cargo ship belonging to Israel last week was probably Somali pirates rather than Houthis militias.

However, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said the United States has not ruled out a link to the Houthis in last weekend’s hijacking attempt.

The US Navy foiled the attack on the Central Park ship late last week after armed men boarded the vessel.

The hijacking attempt comes at a time when Yemen’s Houthis, supported by Iran, have launched a series of attacks against Israeli ships in the region, and the United States has said that ballistic missiles fired from Houthi-controlled territory were directed at American Navy ships shortly after the attack last week fell into the sea and away from the ships, and did not cause any damage.

Missile and drone attacks against Israel have largely failed, but the group has seized commercial vessels in the Red Sea that it says have ties to Israel.

After the Houthis seized a ship earlier this month, the United States said it was considering re-designating the Houthis as a “terrorist” organization.

The Yemeni government in Aden blamed the Houthis for the attack, but the group did not acknowledge the missiles fired or the attempt to seize the ship.