Portuguese-flagged ship is hit far in Arabian Sea, raising concerns over Houthi rebel capabilities

By JON GAMBRELL
Associated Press

JERUSALEM (AP) — A Portuguese-flagged container ship has come under attack by a drone in the far reaches of the Arabian Sea. That corresponds with a claim early Tuesday by Yemen’s Houthi rebels that they assaulted the ship there. The attack on the MSC Orion, occurring some 600 kilometers or 375 miles off the coast of Yemen, appeared to be the first confirmed deep-sea assault claimed by the Houthis since they began targeting ships in November. It suggests the Houthis — or potentially their main benefactor Iran — have the ability to strike out potentially into the distances of the Indian Ocean as the rebels previously threatened in their ongoing campaign over Israel’s war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip.