Two sailors are killed when Yemen SUICIDE BOATS smash into Saudi warship 

  • Two crew members on the vessel died in explosion caused by three boat attack
  • It was targeted by the armed Houthi movement, which is backed by Iran
  • Three sailors on board the ship were also injured in the attack
  • The Houthi movement claims the ship was struck by a guided missile 

By Reuters and Dave Burke For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Two crew members on a Saudi warship were killed after an attack by three 'suicide boats' which caused a large explosion.

The vessel was targeted off the western coast of Yemen by the armed Houthi movement.

Three sailors were also injured in the attack.

Two sailors died in the explosion and a further three were injured as a result of the attack

Two sailors died in the explosion and a further three were injured as a result of the attack

Footage shows huge flames on the vessel, in an attack claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi movement

Footage shows huge flames on the vessel, in an attack claimed by the Iran-backed Houthi movement

The attacks follow weeks of combat on Yemen's western coast between the Iran-allied Houthis and the coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government.

A statement on state news agency SPA from the Saudi-led coalition reported: 'A Saudi frigate on patrol west of Hodeidah port came under attack from three suicide boats belonging to the Houthi militias.'

One of the boats smashed into the rear of the warship, causing an explosion and a fire that killed two crew members and wounded three others.

The Houthi movement's al-Masira channel contradicted this account and quoted a military source saying the explosion was caused by a guided missile.

Footage of the attack appears to show the ships attack the vessel, although the Houthis claimed the explosion was caused by a guided missile

Footage of the attack appears to show the ships attack the vessel, although the Houthis claimed the explosion was caused by a guided missile

But footage purportedly showing the attack shows the ship being targeted by the three boats.

It was at least the second attack by the Houthis on ships off the coast of Yemen in the last six months.

A United Arab Emirates vessel was attacked with a cruise missile by Houthi militants off Yemen's west coast in October.

The ship was attacked by the Houthi movement, which is locked in conflict with the Saudi-led coalition

The ship was attacked by the Houthi movement, which is locked in conflict with the Saudi-led coalition

The group is engaged in battles on the mainland with coalition troops and pro-government fighters, who are trying to advance northward to deprive the Houthis of Red Sea ports.

The Saudi-led coalition warned the attack on the ship 'would impact international navigation and the flow of humanitarian assistance to the port for Yemeni citizens'.

Separately, the Houthis said they launched a ballistic missile at a Saudi-led coalition military base on the Red Sea island of Zuqar between Yemen and Eritrea on Tuesday morning, according to the group's official news channel al-Masira.

There was no immediate coalition reaction to that claim and it was unclear if there were any casualties.

Saudi Arabia

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